Thomas Catley
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Email:                  tcatley1@sheffield.ac.uk
​PhD:                     2018-
Department: Physics and Astronomy 
Supervisor(s): Dr Andrew Parnell (Physics and Astronomy)
                                 Dr Rebecca Corrigan (MBB)
                              
​Project: Development of bio-inspired antibacterial surfaces

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The formation of a mature biofilm is a key process in the spread of bacteria as it increases their resistance to the action of antibiotics. It is therefore important to find ways to inhibit or prevent biofilm formation in order to reduce the proliferation of bacteria, which is especially significant on medical devices and surfaces.

The wings of certain insects, most notably cicada, display nano-scale surface features that have been shown to kill bacteria that adsorb to them through mechanical breaking of the cell. Such surfaces would reduce biofilm formation without the need for undesirable chemical or drug based treatments, which can lead to antimicrobial resistance.

The aims of this project are to better understand the mechanism by which nano-scale surface structures kill bacteria using techniques such as Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and confocal microscopy, to develop bio-inspired synthetic surfaces that mimic the topography of the cicada wing and to optimise these surfaces to achieve the highest possible bactericidal efficacy. It is hoped that these surfaces could eventually be scaled for use in medical technology. 

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The Team

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Management Team

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Microbiology

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Immunology

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Clinicians

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Allied Disciplines

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PhD students

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Former Members
​and Alumni