Antibacterial Surfaces from Chlorinated Plasma Polymers

Just published communication in RSC Advances.

plasma polymerization of 1,1,1-trichloroethane yields coating with robust antibacterial surface properties

A new study published from the Mawson Institute and the Wark at UniSA and QUT reveals how a straightforward plasma deposition of an inexpensive compound leads to effective antibacterial surfaces.

Chlorinated surfaces rapidly kill Staphylococcus epidermidis on contact.  The action occurs rapidly and there is little difference if the prepared surface is dry, wet or washed.

Read more about this research here.

Announcing the Mycology / Surface Interfaces Group (MSIG)

I’m pleased to announce that I will be leading research on antifungal surfaces under MSIG: The Mycology / Surface Interface Group.

More information on MSIG and other research can be found on the Mawson Institute Web Page.  In particular, Group Leader web pages have now been updated.  Please click here or the image below to go to the Coad Laboratories page.

NB. Updated 8/5/17. Removed old links to now missing web pages. Please see “Contact Info” for the latest information.

 

 

We’re hiring: Research Associate in Biomaterials

Please follow this link for the job description and application for a Research Associate (Biomaterials Biology) at the University of South Australia, Adelaide.

In short, the position is part time, 0.7 full-time equivalent, for 3 years.

Copper from seawater can be selectively bound and accumulated into PEI films

Just published in RSC Advances, a new paper from work I did with Johan Linden, Mikael Larsson, Bill Skinner, and Magnus Nyden:

Polyethyleneimine for copper absorption: kinetics, selectivity and efficiency in artificial seawater

image copyright Royal Society of Chemistry

image copyright Royal Society of Chemistry

Link to paper in RSC Advances

The surprising result was that a simple, industrial polymer was so effective at first binding metal ions but then, over time, having a greater affinity only for copper leaving the film to be enriched only in this metal.

Thus, copper can be scavenged selectively from low concentration seawater solutions.  This has implications for removal of toxic copper from marinas — an environmental problem caused by leaching of copper from antifouling marine coatings.