Anti-fouling composition comprising an aerogel

Abstract

The present invention also relates to an anti-fouling composition comprising one or more aerogels. In one embodiment the aerogel encapsulate one or more bioactive agents. The one or more encapsulated bioactive agents can in one preferred embodiment be released from the aerogel over time. In one embodiment the encapsulated bioactive agents comprise one or more enzymes. In one preferred embodiment the anti-fouling composition comprising one or more aerogels is a coating composition.

1 . An anti-fouling composition comprising one or more aerogel(s) for reduction or prevention of fouling of a surface coated with said composition. 
     
     
         2 . The anti-fouling composition comprising one or more aerogel(s) according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more aerogel(s) is one or more organic aerogel(s). 
     
     
         3 . The anti-fouling composition comprising one or more aerogel(s) according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more aerogel(s) is one or more in-organic aerogel(s). 
     
     
         4 . The anti-fouling composition comprising one or more aerogel(s) according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more aerogel(s) is one or more silica aerogel(s). 
     
     
         5 . The anti-fouling composition comprising one or more aerogel(s) according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more aerogel(s) is one or more carbon aerogel(s). 
     
     
         6 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The anti-fouling composition comprising one or more aerogel(s) according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more aerogel(s) is one or more metal aerogel(s). 
     
     
         14 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . The anti-fouling composition comprising one or more aerogel(s) according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more aerogel(s) has a density in the range from 0.05 to 1.0 g/mol. 
     
     
         19 . The anti-fouling composition comprising one or more aerogel(s) according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more aerogel(s) has a surface area in the range from 500 m 2 /g to 2000 m 2 /g. 
     
     
         20 . The anti-fouling composition comprising one or more aerogel(s) according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more aerogel(s) has a pore size in the range of from 1 to 25 nm. 
     
     
         21 - 32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . The anti-fouling composition comprising one or more aerogel(s) according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more aerogel(s) comprises a self-polishing effect. 
     
     
         34 . The anti-fouling composition comprising one or more aerogel(s) according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more aerogel(s) further comprises one or more encapsulated bioactive agent(s). 
     
     
         35 . The anti-fouling composition comprising one or more aerogel(s) according to  claim 34 , wherein the one or more bioactive agent(s) are released from the one or more aerogels over time. 
     
     
         36 . The anti-fouling composition comprising one or more aerogel(s) according to  claim 34 , wherein the one or more bioactive agent(s) comprises one or more protein(s). 
     
     
         37 . The anti-fouling composition comprising one or more aerogel(s) according to  claim 34 , wherein the one or more bioactive agent(s) comprises one or more enzyme(s). 
     
     
         38 . The anti-fouling composition comprising one or more aerogel(s) according to  claim 37 , wherein the one or more enzymes comprises one or more hemicellulolytically active enzyme(s). 
     
     
         39 . The anti-fouling composition comprising one or more aerogel(s) according to  claim 37 , wherein the one or more enzymes comprises one or more amylolytically active enzyme(s). 
     
     
         40 . The anti-fouling composition comprising one or more aerogel(s) according to  claim 37 , wherein the one or more enzymes comprises one or more cellulolytically active enzyme(s). 
     
     
         41 . The anti-fouling composition comprising one or more aerogel(s) according to  claim 34 , wherein the one or more bioactive agent(s) comprises one or more endopeptidase(s). 
     
     
         42 . The anti-fouling composition comprising one or more aerogel(s) according to  claim 41 , wherein the one or more endopeptidase(s) comprises a Subtilisin (EC 3.4.21.62). 
     
     
         43 - 44 . (canceled) 
     
     
         45 . The anti-fouling composition comprising one or more aerogel(s) according to  claim 38 , wherein the one or more hemicellulolytically active enzyme(s) is selected from the group consisting of Endo-1,4-beta-xylanase (E.C. 3.2.1.8), Xylan endo-1,3-beta-xylosidase (E.C. 3.2.1.32), Glucuronoarabinoxylan endo-1,4-beta-xylanase (E.C. 3.2.1.136), Beta-mannosidase (E.C. 3.2.1.25), Mannan endo-1,4-beta-mannosidase (E.C. 3.2.1.78) and Mannan endo-1,6-beta-mannosidase (E.C. 3.2.1.101). 
     
     
         46 . The anti-fouling composition comprising one or more aerogel(s) according to  claim 38 , wherein the one or more hemicellulolytically active enzyme(s) comprises a xylanase. 
     
     
         47 . (canceled) 
     
     
         48 . The anti-fouling composition comprising one or more aerogel(s) according to  claim 39 , wherein the one or more amylolytically active enzyme(s) comprises an amylase. 
     
     
         49 - 72 . (canceled) 
     
     
         73 . The anti-fouling composition comprising one or more aerogel(s) according to  claim 37 , wherein the one or more enzymes comprises one or more lipase(s). 
     
     
         74 . (canceled) 
     
     
         75 . The anti-fouling composition comprising one or more aerogel(s) according to  claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises an esterase. 
     
     
         76 . (canceled) 
     
     
         77 . The anti-fouling composition comprising one or more aerogel(s) according to  claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises a protease. 
     
     
         78 . The anti-fouling composition comprising one or more aerogel(s) according to  claim 77 , wherein the protease is of the subtilisin type. 
     
     
         79 . The anti-fouling composition comprising one or more aerogel(s) according to  claim 77 , wherein the protease is alcalase. 
     
     
         80 - 81 . (canceled) 
     
     
         82 . The anti-fouling composition comprising one or more aerogel(s) according to  claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises a lipase. 
     
     
         83 . (canceled) 
     
     
         84 . The anti-fouling composition comprising one or more aerogel(s) according to  claim 37 , wherein the one or more enzyme(s) comprises one or more hydrolytic enzymes. 
     
     
         85 - 86 . (canceled) 
     
     
         87 . The anti-fouling composition comprising one or more aerogel(s) according to  claim 37 , wherein the one or more enzyme(s) are functionalized to be actively incorporated into the three-dimensional structure of the one or more aerogel(s). 
     
     
         88 - 91 . (canceled) 
     
     
         92 . The anti-fouling composition comprising one or more aerogel(s) according to  claim 37 , wherein the one or more enzyme(s) are encapsulated in the one or more aerogels together with one or more other bioactive agent(s). 
     
     
         93 - 98 . (canceled) 
     
     
         99 . The anti-fouling composition comprising one or more aerogel(s) according to  claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises a rosin. 
     
     
         100 - 112 . (canceled) 
     
     
         113 . A coating composition comprising the anti-fouling composition comprising one or more aerogels according to  claim 1  and a carrier. 
     
     
         114 - 115 . (canceled) 
     
     
         116 . The coating composition according to  claim 113 , wherein the coating composition comprises one or more pigment(s). 
     
     
         117 . The coating composition according to  claim 113 , wherein the coating composition comprises one or more binder(s). 
     
     
         118 . The coating composition according to  claim 113 , wherein the coating composition comprises one or more vehicle(s). 
     
     
         119 - 182 . (canceled) 
     
     
         183 . A method for preventing or reducing fouling of a surface, said method comprising the steps of contacting the surface with a composition according to  claim 1  with an effective amount of said composition or coating composition or hygienic composition, wherein said contacting results in preventing or reducing fouling of said surface. 
     
     
         184 - 216 . (canceled) 
     
     
         217 . A method for preventing or reducing fouling of a surface, said method comprising the steps of contacting the surface with a composition according to  claim 113  with an effective amount of said composition or coating composition or hygienic composition, wherein said contacting results in preventing or reducing fouling of said surface. 
     
     
         218 . A method for preventing or reducing fouling of a surface according to  claim 183 , wherein the surface is a surface that is at least occasionally immersed in water, wherein said water includes fresh, salt or brackish water. 
     
     
         219 . A method for preventing or reducing fouling of a surface according to  claim 217 , wherein the surface is a surface that is at least occasionally immersed in water, wherein said water includes fresh, salt or brackish water. 
     
     
         220 . A method for preventing or reducing fouling of a surface according to  claim 183 , wherein the surface is selected from surfaces of vessels including boats and ships, ship hulls, off-shore equipment, pipes, substructures of bridges, piers and aquacultural apparatuses including fish farming nets. 
     
     
         221 . A method for preventing or reducing fouling of a surface according to  claim 217 , wherein the surface is selected from surfaces of vessels including boats and ships, ship hulls, off-shore equipment, pipes, substructures of bridges, piers and aquacultural apparatuses including fish farming nets. 
     
     
         222 . Method for preparing the composition according to  claim 1 , said method comprising the steps of providing at least one pigment and at least one enzyme capable of acting on a compound, wherein said action results in the formation of an antifouling species comprising an antifouling activity. 
     
     
         223 . Method for preparing the composition according to  claim 113  said method comprising the steps of providing at least one pigment and at least one enzyme capable of acting on a compound, wherein said action results in the formation of an antifouling species comprising an antifouling activity, the method comprises further providing a carrier for said at least one enzyme, and forming said composition by contacting said at least one enzyme with said carrier.