Engineering Functional Materials to Prevent Microbial Adhesion and Biofilm Formation
Advanced Nanomaterials for Water Purification
Access to safe water and effective microbial control remain major challenges in water treatment and distribution systems. Conventional disinfection strategies can be limited by persistent microbial contamination, biofilm formation and the operational demands associated with maintaining water quality.
Our research explores the development of advanced nanomaterials and functional material systems for water purification, microbial inactivation and biofilm control. We investigate how nanomaterial composition, surface chemistry, morphology and physicochemical properties influence interactions with microorganisms and determine antimicrobial performance in aqueous environments.
Our work encompasses the engineering and functionalisation of nanomaterials for integration into water treatment technologies, with emphasis on improving microbial removal or inactivation, controlling biofilm formation and maintaining material performance under application-relevant conditions.
We investigate the relationships between nanomaterial properties, antimicrobial mechanisms and water chemistry, including the effects of environmental conditions on material stability, microbial responses and treatment efficacy.
Through collaborations with industrial partners, we aim to translate advanced nanomaterial technologies into practical approaches for water purification and microbial control, with consideration of material durability, environmental compatibility, scalability and integration into existing treatment infrastructure.
Surface Topography and Biofilm Prevention
Bacterial adhesion is the initial stage of biofilm formation and is strongly influenced by the physicochemical and topographical properties of a material surface. Once established, biofilms exhibit increased tolerance to antimicrobial treatments and environmental stresses, presenting significant challenges in healthcare, industrial and environmental settings.
Our research investigates how engineered micro- and nanoscale surface topographies influence bacterial attachment, colonisation and biofilm development. We examine the relationships between surface architecture, roughness, wettability, surface chemistry and microbial responses to identify material design strategies that minimise bacterial adhesion.
Particular emphasis is placed on understanding the mechanisms governing bacteria–surface interactions and developing functional topographies that inhibit microbial colonisation through physical surface design, reducing dependence on continuously released antimicrobial agents.
By integrating advanced surface fabrication, physicochemical characterisation and quantitative microbiological evaluation, we aim to establish structure–function relationships that inform the design of anti-adhesive and biofilm-resistant materials for biomedical and industrial applications.