Synthesis and characterization of nanostructured biomaterials

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Silver nanostructured films are used daily in wound treatment around the world. These new materials, which are made of equiaxed crystals that are less than 20 billonths of a meter in diameter, have dramatically changed the lives of people with chronic wounds like pressure sores and venous ulcers. In the past some of these wounds would not heal despite receiving the best available treatment, but when treated with nanocrystalline silver they healed very well. Remarkably this same nanotechnology may one day benefit people with diverse diseases like eczema, psoriasis asthma and rheumatoid arthritis. This research program will look at nanostructured noble metals, including gold and silver, with a goal of optimizing their structures to achieve various biological responses including control of inflammation. Researchers will use sophisticated vacuum equipment to create various types of nanostructured materials and then use advanced chemical techniques to characterize the final materials. Biological activity assessments will also be made and correlated to the nanostructure of the material so that the structure-activity relationships can be established. This will allow researchers to optimize the materials nanostructure for various applications and make the development of therapeutic products possible. This work will keep Canada at the forefront of nanostructured materials research through the training of graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. It may lead to development of new therapeutic agents which will benefit Canadians both by creating high tech employment opportunities in nanotechnology and by improving their quality of life through the treatment of disease.