Principal Investigator Michael Rubner
We are investigating the use of polymer coatings formed using layer by layer assembly to create coatings capable of preventing the growth of a biofilm. We are researching the effects of key surface properties, such as mechanical stiffness and surface charge, on bacteria attachment and cytotoxicity. Using the layer by layer approach and tuning synthesis and post-assembly conditions, chemically identical films can be created with different elastic moduli and chemical functional group densities. These films are then used to isolate the effects of various properties.