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Living materials as an alternative to antibiotics to fight against pathogen infections.
Wound infections present a significant challenge in healthcare, and traditional treatments involving antibiotics can lead to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Probiotics (i.e. the "good bacteria") have been studied widely for their potential antimicrobial effects and use in wound treatment as an alternative to antibi-otics. They have been reported to enhance wound healing, produce antimicrobial substances, disrupt biofilm, and restore the microbial balance in wounds. In this project, we aim to combine the benefits of probiotics and hydrogels to form a so-called "living hydrogel": i.e. a hydrogel with organisms inside. The living hydrogel can not only fulfill the function of a normal wound patch but also deliver the therapeutic factors secreted by the encapsulated probiotics to fight against pathogen infection and also promote wound healing.
Keywords: Bacteria, infection, probiotics, biomaterial, living material, wound healing
This interdisciplinary project will strengthen your understanding of material science and its biomedical application. We have developed an injectable hydrogel suitable as a carrier system for probiotics. The injectability of the hydrogel allows it to fit any shape of the wounds and the special chemical crosslinking bonds (Schiff-base bonds) enable the hydrogel with multi-responsiveness, allowing it to respond "smartly" according to the environment changes. The encapsulated probiotics will continue proliferating and secreting therapeutic compounds to reduce infection and also promote wound healing. In this project, you will learn to study the material–organism interactions and optimize a "living material" which is suitable as a wound management ma-terial. You will have opportunities to access multiple material characterizing techniques e.g. NMR, Rheology, Confocal Microscopy, etc. You will also strengthen your understanding of microbiology, especially of pathogens and probiotics.
*accommodation and student allowance are provided
This interdisciplinary project will strengthen your understanding of material science and its biomedical application. We have developed an injectable hydrogel suitable as a carrier system for probiotics. The injectability of the hydrogel allows it to fit any shape of the wounds and the special chemical crosslinking bonds (Schiff-base bonds) enable the hydrogel with multi-responsiveness, allowing it to respond "smartly" according to the environment changes. The encapsulated probiotics will continue proliferating and secreting therapeutic compounds to reduce infection and also promote wound healing. In this project, you will learn to study the material–organism interactions and optimize a "living material" which is suitable as a wound management ma-terial. You will have opportunities to access multiple material characterizing techniques e.g. NMR, Rheology, Confocal Microscopy, etc. You will also strengthen your understanding of microbiology, especially of pathogens and probiotics.
*accommodation and student allowance are provided
This project aims to understand the material-organism interactions, and more importantly, develop a living hydrogel for wound management.
This project aims to understand the material-organism interactions, and more importantly, develop a living hydrogel for wound management.
Siyuan Tao: siyuan.tao@empa.ch
Dr. Qun Ren: qun.ren@empa.ch
Siyuan Tao: siyuan.tao@empa.ch Dr. Qun Ren: qun.ren@empa.ch