Title

A novel integrated physical-electrochemical approach for fighting biofilms

Summary:

Biofilms are communities of bacterial cells connected within a matrix of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and are implicated in over 80% of infections. Antimicrobials are commonly deployed to treat biofilm-related infections; however, multi-drug resistance is increasingly common, with biofilm cell communities being up to 1000-fold more resistant to antibiotics than individual cells.

Novel strategies to combat pathogenic biofilms are urgently needed. Promisingly, many new strategies have emerged across medicinal chemistry for the treatment of tumor cell communities that can also be used on biofilms. Furthermore, we are beginning to understand that the redox chemistry of the biofilm can be controlled to modulate biofilm growth.

We aim to develop a novel integrated approach for fighting microbial infections that synergistically combines the physical disruption of biofilm structure and function, with the chemical disruption of the biofilm redox chemistry to inhibit its metabolic pathways.

This approach uniquely combines/enhances both effects for inhibiting biofilms and minimises their ability to develop resistance.

 The student will be involved in all aspects of this project, from studying the physical and electrochemical properties of biofilms, through screening and identifying redox-active biofilm modifiers,  to developing new electrochemically induced antimicrobial methods. The student will gain experience in microbiological assays and have the opportunity to be trained in a combination of techniques including, Cyclic voltammetry (CV), Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS), and (Electrochemical) Quartz Crystal Microbalance with Dissipation (E/QCM-D).

This is an opportunity to join a highly interdisciplinary project that advances sustainable and environmentally friendly technologies for the future.

References:

1. Hayta et al. Adv. Mater. Interfaces 8, (2021).
2. Duer et al. PCT/GB2021/050345 (2021).
3. Flemming et al. Nat. Rev. Microbiol. 14, (2016).
4. Jiang, Y. et al. Microorganisms 8 (2020).

Required Knowledge

• Students from various scientific backgrounds are encouraged to apply. However, candidates with prior experience in biointerfaces, biomaterials, and electrochemistry will have an advantage.

Supervisors 

Day-to-day Supervisor:  Sivan Nir (sn642@cam.ac.uk)

Co-supervisors: Jenny Zhang (jz366@cam.ac.uk), Martin Welch (mw240@cam.ac.uk)

Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology/Biochemistry