Conducting Polymers: An Efficient Way to Deal with Medical and Industrial Fouling

Fouling is an unpleasant event where reversible/irreversible adhesion of microorganisms, macro biomolecules, or suspended particulate matter occurs. Medically, this phenomenon turns out to be a hurdle by precipitating the genesis of microbial biofilms or biofouling on medical devices, implantable, and biosensors, which sequentially accelerate health risks like augmented-infection-spread implant rejections and diminished device capacity. Further fouling poses a critical problem in the industrial sector by its deleterious effect on heat transfer equipment, water treatment plants, pipe blockage, and overall operational conduct. Antifouling strategies are of paramount importance for effective control of fouling. Presently, conductive polymers (CPs)-based antifouling is widely accepted due to their versatile conjugated polymer backbone structure and functionalities. The purpose of the chapter is to review the basics of fouling, properties, and synthesis of CPs and their applications in the medical and industrial sectors.