14 DAY TRIAL // Five new US, European and Japanese companies joined Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) Industrial Consortium On Nanoimprint to create anti-microbial surfaces inspired by the marine life, for use on ships, lenses and medical devices.
The sources of inspiration for the project will be dolphins and pilot whales – since they are known to have anti-fouling skins, and starting here, researchers from A*STAR's Industrial Consortium On Nanoimprint (ICON) will use nanotechnology to create synthetic, chemical-free, anti-bacterial surfaces.
The idea behind these surfaces is to help reduce infections caused by pathogens like S. aureus and E. coli, but it should also be possible to use them on common plastics, medical devices, lenses and even ship hulls.
And since current methods for preventing bacterial surface attachment can involve potentially dangerous metal ions, nanoparticles, chemicals or UV-radiation, this looks like the only viable and risk-free solution.
“With millions of years of experience behind her, nature has produced some of the most rugged, adaptable life forms.
“Who better to learn engineering from than Mother Nature?”, said Dr Low Hong Yee, A*STAR's Institute of Materials Research and Engineering's Director for Research and Innovation and head of the consortium.
Besides, this project will also prove the adaptability of the nanoimprinting technology and its benefits to a large range of industries.
Nanoimprint technology is a form of nanotechnology, a simple technique that has been developed by IMRE to make complex nanometer-sized patterns on surfaces to imitate the texture of natural surfaces.
This allows the engineered material to have 'natural' properties like luminescence, water-proofing, adhesiveness and anti-reflectivity.
Professor Andy Hor, Executive Director of IMRE, said that “the strong support given by industry to this second project and to the consortium is a resounding seal of approval of the research, the talent expertise, the technology and its real-world applications.”
“Working closely with companies ensures that our R&D and expertise is translated at the earliest possible time and contributes value to the economy,” added Dr Raj Thampuran, A*STAR Science and Engineering Research Council's (SERC) Executive Director.
“Borrowing intimately from characteristics in nature represents some of the most frontier and innovative ideas in science and engineering.
“I am pleased that IMRE's research will help companies challenge difficult engineering problems.”
Mr Steve Ferriday, Technical Manager, Worldwide Marine Foul Release, International Paint Ltd (UK) – part of Akzo Nobel, the world's largest global paints and coatings company, said that “ICON and nanoimprint research gives our own R&D an added dimension and provides us with alternative options on how our existing technology can be applied.”
Mr Tsuyoshi Watanabe, General Manager, R&D Center of Hoya Corporation, a Japanese-based company dealing in advanced electronics and optics technologies, explained that “chemical additives in biomedical devices can adversely affect different users in different ways.
“The anti-microbial surfaces derived from nanoimprint technology without the need for additional chemicals and coatings may offer us an alternative solution to this issue.”
As for Nypro, its Director of Technology, Mr Michael McGee said that the company “is excited to be a part of this second project.
“Our participation in such a world class collaborative program gives Nypro a competitive advantage in bringing innovation to our customers.”
Finally, Mrs Tang-Lim Guek Im, Senior Director for Technology Collaboration at Ngee Ann Polytechnic, Singapore, said that “this collaboration will enable the R&D partners to leverage on their areas of expertise to investigate how bacteria attach to specially designed surfaces of different materials.
“The industrial applications are tremendous and Ngee Ann Polytechnic is excited to be part of the team.
“Our student interns from various courses at the School of Life Sciences & Chemical Technology will also benefit from working on projects under the supervision of top researchers.”
