Investigation of Biofilms Using Microfluidic Systems

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

Understanding the interaction between the biofilms and their environment is fundamental to biology, water quality, oil pipelining, food processing, and medicine, because bacteria can rapidly adapt to environmental cues. The proposed research program aims to study cellular dynamics in the context of biofilms using microfluidic systems. The results of the research will create insights into the functional aspects of cellular signalling at the molecular and cellular level, and thereby will lead to novel microfluidic platform technologies. The investigation of biofilms and the biological processes provides new approaches for developing applications and devices in biological engineering systems. Knowledge of adhesion kinetics of bacteria, and spatio-temporal development of biofilm will aid in the novel bio-medical surface design for preventing biofouling. Fundamental aspects of the nanopatterned surface design inside fluidic channels and the surface functionality on the exchange of molecular cues will be explored. Anti-microbial resistance profiles for uropathogenic, food pathogenic, and prosthetic infectious strains will be created from the antibiotic susceptibility studies using microfluidic platforms. The research results will generate new concepts and innovative high-value products in sectors such as bioenergy, bioremediation, environmental and food quality monitoring. Research discoveries such as health care diagnostic devices, field deployable microfluidic systems, and novel surface enhanced bio-medical instruments are expected as outcomes, and thereby will enhance the economy of Canada.