Combating fungal biofilm growth on surfaces

该项目旨在为设计和开发用于生物医学设备的薄涂层奠定科学基础，该涂层可以抵抗真菌细胞的附着并随后在其表面形成传染性真菌生物膜。推进对材料表面物理化学性质如何影响真菌附着的机理理解，将使涂层化学和结构的合理开发和优化成为可能。栓系抗真菌化合物将通过受控聚合方法添加到聚合物表面，以提供主动威慑；将研究构象灵活性等因素以优化涂层，这可能会防止危及生命的感染并降低医疗成本。

This project aims to establish a scientific basis for the design and development of thin coatings, for use on biomedical devices, that can resist the attachment of fungal cells and the ensuing formation of infectious fungal biofilms on their surfaces. Advancing mechanistic understanding of how physico-chemical properties of materials surfaces influence fungal attachment will enable rational development and optimisation of coating chemistries and structures. Tethered antifungal compounds will be added to polymer surfaces by controlled polymerisation methods to provide active deterrence; factors such as conformational flexibility will be studied to optimise coatings, which may will prevent life-threatening infections and reduce healthcare costs.