Combinatorial materials research applied to the development of new surface coatings I: a multiwell plate screening method for the high-throughput assessment of bacterial biofilm retention on surfaces.

Combinatorial, high-throughput capabilities have been established to aid in the rapid development of new and effective antifouling marine coatings for naval applications. A biological screening process involving marine bacteria was developed that allows for rapid and effective quantification of bacterial biofilm growth and retention on large numbers of coating surfaces in parallel. The screening process involves (1) multiwell plate modifications for coating deposition, (2) deposition of combinatorial coating libraries via an automated liquid dispensing robot, (3) coating thickness measurements of cured coatings, (4) preconditioning of coatings via immersion in deionized water, (5) bacterial incubation, (6) plate processing, and (7) data analysis for identification of promising candidates.