Horizon 2020
European Union Funding
for Research & Innovation
Scientist working on a microscope

ESR 7: Design of antimicrobial mechanism of metallic patterned hydrophobic surfaces produced by dealloying  and plastic flow deformation of metallic glasses

Project Description

Objectives: Design antimicrobial TiO2, Cu or Au nanostructured surfaces with direct topological action and/or enhanced chemical activity in influencing antibacterial surface properties and evaluation of their surface microbial adhesion. Tasks: i) development of new Ti-Cu based amorphous alloys with antimicrobial elements (Ag, Ga or Zn); ii) design of nanoporous Cu/TiO2 surfaces from Ti-based glassy alloys, development of hierarchical nanopatterned surfaces by plastic flow deformation and dealloying whit the evaluation of surface wettability of the produced materials; iii) evaluation, in cell free systems, of antimicrobial activity by: reactive oxygen species, Fenton chemistry, free-radical release, surface radical species, peroxidation of biomolecules, including endogenous antioxidants and/or suitable molecular probes.

Expected Results: Development of efficient nanoporous hydrophobic surfaces on glassy alloys.

The ESR will travel abroad for research secondments at partner organisations of the BIOREMIA Network (e.g. at IFW Dresden-Germany, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona-Spain, The University Clinics of Giessen & Marburg - Germany, PX Services-Switzerland) and will participate in specialised training meetings and international conferences.

ESR 7: Kirti Tiwari

Università degli Studi di Torino (UNITO), Italy

Kirti Tiwari received her Bachelor’s degree in Physics (and minors in Chemistry and Zoology) from Carmel College for Women (India), in 2018.