Sustainable Nanoparticle-based Antifouling Approaches: From Synthesis to Application

Biofouling is a major challenge across diverse industries, including marine, medical, food, wastewater, and water treatment systems. The accumulation of undesired biological materials on surfaces leads to lower efficiency, contamination, and high operational costs. Nanoparticles have emerged as a promising solution, offering superior antifouling properties due to their small size, high surface area, and adjustable physicochemical properties. This review provides an overall summary of the latest advancements in nanoparticlebased antifouling strategies, highlighting various types of nanoparticle synthesis techniques, sector-wise applications, mechanism of action, economic considerations, and regulatory concerns.