Novel anti-microbial metallic surfaces for infection control

Overview:
Worldwide antibiotic use rose by 40% between 2000 and 2010, which combined with international travel and migration has allowed antimicrobial resistant pathogens to spread. There is a global shortage of effective antimicrobial agents, and for some infections there are now no treatments. The UK government's Review on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) has estimated that by 2050, 10 million people a year will die from AMR infections. The impact of AMR will not be seen only in terms of morbidity and mortality but also in the economy with an approximation that if no new antimicrobial treatments are found then by 2050 the world economy will have lost 7% of its GDP, $100.2 trillion. Currently every year in Europe 33,000 people die from infections they have caught whilst in hospital. Infectious diseases are a significant health and economic burden in the UK also, accounting for 7% of deaths and annual costs of £30bn. The shortage of effective antimicrobial treatments has been compounded by the lack of novel agents in development and a lack of alternative strategies to reduce microbial spread. New ways of preventing the spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria especially amongst vulnerable populations, such as those in the healthcare system could reduce the number of healthcare associated infections and reduce antibiotic usage.

The sponsor company in collaboration with Swansea University will work to identify effective nano reservoir systems, show the effectiveness at reducing or preventing microbial growth on the surface, and prove the technology can create a reduction in antibiotic resistant bacteria on surfaces. The surfaces need to be highly durable and not cause a reaction to humans upon touch, due to the high usage in a hospital environment.

The Research Engineer will focus on investigating the properties of the nano reservoir structures and to assess their efficacy against antibiotic resistant bacteria (e.g., Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli) by using antibiotic susceptibility methods.

Project Aims:
1. Develop novel nano reservoirs that can be combined effectively with a range of anti-microbial agents.
2. Determine the most effective coating technique to allow optimal release of antimicrobial agents.
3. To determine whether a range of clinically relevant antibiotic sensitive and antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria are inhibited by novel surfaces/systems.
4. To establish which surface/system has the broadest range of activity.
5. To ascertain how the duration of exposure impacts on the efficacy of the surface/system under consideration.

Predicted outcomes:
- Knowledge about the antimicrobial activity and efficacy of their novel surfaces.
- Identify the best material combinations for incorporation into infection control products.
- Efficacy of material release mechanisms: stochastic/natural, triggered and directed.
- Prototype deployment.
- Paper publication.

The CDT will produce 50 graduates with doctoral level knowledge and research skills focussed on the development and manufacture of functional industrial coatings. Key impact areas are:

Knowledge
- The development of new products and processes to address real scientific challenges existing in industry and to transfer this knowledge into partnering companies. The CDT will enable rapid knowledge transfer between academia and industry due to the co-created projects and co-supervision.
- The creation of knowledge sharing network for partner companies created by the environment of the CDT.
- On average 2-3 publications per RE. Publications in high impact factor journals. The scientific scope of the CDT comprises a mixture of interdisciplinary areas and as such a breadth of knowledge can be generated through the CDT. Examples would include Photovoltaic coatings - Journal of Materials Chemistry A (IF 8.867) and Anti-corrosion Coatings - Corrosion Science (IF 5.245), Progress in Organic Coatings (IF 2.903)
- REs will disseminate knowledge at leading conferences e.g. Materials Research Society (MRS), Meetings of the Electrochemical Society, and through trade associations and Institutes representing the coatings sector.
- A bespoke training package on the formulation, function, use, degradation and end of life that will embed the latest research and will be available to industry partners for employees to attend as CPD and for other PGRs demonstrating added value from the CDT environment.

Wealth Creation
- Value added products and processes created through the CDT will generate benefits for Industrial partners and supply chains helping to build a productive nation.
- Employment of graduates into industry will transfer their knowledge and skills into businesses enabling innovation within these companies.
- Swansea University will support potential spin out companies where appropriate through its dedicated EU funded commercialisation project, Agor IP.

Environment and society
- Functionalised surfaces can potentially improve human health through anti-microbial surfaces for health care infrastructure and treatment of water using photocatalytic coatings.
- Functionalised energy generation coatings will contribute towards national strategies regarding clean and secure energy.
- Responsible research and innovation is an overarching theme of the CDT with materials sustainability, ethics, energy and end of life considered throughout the development of new coatings and processes. Thus, REs will be trained to approach all future problems with this mind set.
- Outreach is a critical element of the training programme (for example, a module delivered by the Ri on public engagement) and our REs will have skills that enable the dissemination of their knowledge to wide audiences thus generating interest in science and engineering and the benefits that investments can bring.

People
- Highly employable doctoral gradates with a holistic knowledge of functional coatings manufacture who can make an immediate impact in industry or academia.
- The REs will have transferable skills that are pertinent across multiple sectors.
- The CDT will develop ethically aware engineers with sustainability embed throughout their training
- The promotion of equality, diversity and inclusivity within our cohorts through CDT and University wide initiatives.
- The development of alumni networks to grow new opportunities for our CDT and provide REs with mentors.