Going Nano to keep the bugs at bay!
Friday, August 7, 2009
The Advanced Manufacturing CRC (AMCRC) is supporting strategic research that will explore the ways in which nano-scale changes in surface roughness and chemistry can be used to control the attachment and growth of bacteria on materials used in applications as diverse as medical devices and ships. The research is being lead by an interdisciplinary group at Swinburne University of Technology with microbiologist, Professor Elena Ivanova, teaming up with materials engineers Associate Professor Sally McArthur (at Swinburne) and Dr Mohan Jacob at James Cook University.
Once aggregated on a material, bacteria form biofilm structures, triggering a very efficient 'self-protection' mechanism that shields the cells from the outer environment, antibacterial drugs and cleaning agents. As a result, it is the attachment of bacterial cells (in particular the attachment of single cells) is the critical first step in the chain of events leading to the formation of a biofilm.
Biofilm formation generated by the attachment and growth of bacteria on surfaces costs billions of dollars every year across a wide range of industries. On ship hulls, it has been estimated that a biofilm of just a few hundred of microns (the thickness of a human hair) causes a dramatic increase in fuel consumption of about 20%. This corresponds to an additional transportation cost of about US$ 400/hour. At the opposite end of the scale, bacterial infection results in the failure of biomedical devices and is the cause of numerous medical interventions (e.g. dental plaque and wound infection). The AMCRC funding supports 2 PhD students to explore a range of strategies for modifying both the topography and chemistry of materials and then characterising how bacteria interact and colonise these surfaces. In funding this project the AMCRC aims to develop design guidelines for materials that will enable the control bacterial attachment and growth. The approach will enable a rapid translation of the knowledge to virtually any industrial application currently hampered by bacterial colonisation.
Organisations who are interested in pursuing collaborative research in this area are encouraged to contact with Professor Elena Ivanova or Associate Professor Sally McArthur.