Synergy of functionalization and surface nanostructuring to obtain bactericidal surfaces and their characterization by surface plasmon resonance

Microbial contamination of surfaces in specific environments is a significant public health issue. Nosocomial infections and those linked to the installation of implants claim many victims each year. To effectively fight against this proliferation, several methods are available or under development to confer antibacterial properties to surfaces. Chemical functionalization and physical nanostructuring are the most common methods, but they both have advantages and drawbacks. Moreover, only a few studies have used a combination, and these investigations are often limited to a few strains or functionalization. Our project aims to find promising antimicrobial functionalization and surface nanostructuring to study their potential synergy. Finally, the mechanisms of cell/surface interaction still need to be fully understood, and we propose to use Surface Plasmon Resonance Imaging (SPRI) to be able to study different functionalization and surface structuring in parallel. The Intern will tackle the optimization of the electrochemical nanostructuring process developed by the Ph.D. student working on this project for two years. The Intern aims to explore a larger panel of deposition parameters using a Design of Experiment and to optimize the process to reduce the deposited thickness and allow surface characterization using SPRI.

Faculty Supervisor:

Michael Canva

Student:

Partner:

Université de Montpellier

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Education

University:

Université de Sherbrooke

Program: