biostudies-literatureSun YNatural Science Foundation of Zhejiang ProvinceTaizhou Special Support Plan for High-level Talents (Young Talents)National Natural Science Foundation of ChinaTaizhou Science and Technology Plan ProjectKey Research and Development Project of Hainan Province203https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC11942406biostudies-literatureUnknown11(3)Polyzwitterion (PZW) hydrogel has excellent marine anti-biofouling performance, but it is difficult to effectively work for a long time in natural seawater due to its weak mechanical strength. In this study, a new natural rubber (NR)-PZW composite hydrogel has been reported for long-term anti-biofouling by simply dispersing NR latex into the poly(sulfobetaine methacrylate) (PSBMA) hydrogel network. First of all, owing to the PZW hydrogel network having an anti-polyelectrolyte effect, this NR-PZW hydrogel can provide outstanding anti-biofouling performance, including broad-spectrum anti-bacteria, anti-algae, and anti-protein properties in marine environments. Furthermore, it has a composited natural rubber nanoparticle with a hydrophilic negatively charged outer protein membrane, which can Gels (Basel, Switzerland)A Robust Natural Rubber-Polyzwitterion Composite Hydrogel for Highly Enhanced Marine Anti-Biofouling.PMC11942406ZDYF2024GXJS0192023NMS01No. 23gya18No. LY23E03000No. 52463014Liu ZMa CWei QFeng XWong TWMao HChen YJohn DYan YSun YfalseA Robust Natural Rubber-Polyzwitterion Composite Hydrogel for Highly Enhanced Marine Anti-Biofouling.Polyzwitterion (PZW) hydrogel has excellent marine anti-biofouling performance, but it is difficult to effectively work for a long time in natural seawater due to its weak mechanical strength. In this study, a new natural rubber (NR)-PZW composite hydrogel has been reported for long-term anti-biofouling by simply dispersing NR latex into the poly(sulfobetaine methacrylate) (PSBMA) hydrogel network. First of all, owing to the PZW hydrogel network having an anti-polyelectrolyte effect, this NR-PZW hydrogel can provide outstanding anti-biofouling performance, including broad-spectrum anti-bacteria, anti-algae, and anti-protein properties in marine environments. Furthermore, it has a composited natural rubber nanoparticle with a hydrophilic negatively charged outer protein membrane, which can 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z2025 Mar2025-07-05T03:04:36.195Z2025-07-05T03:04:36.195ZS-EPMC119424064013690710.3390/gels11030203