Researchers at Nanotech together with the Orthopaedics Department at WFUBMC, are working to  characterize glycocalyx-related  susceptability phenomena in bacterial colonies.  We are specifically interested in properties of antibiotic resistance, adhesiveness, and metabolic function that may be tied to biofilm formation by bacteria.  We apply Nano-characterization such as AFM, and NSOM, to understand local visco-elastic, adhesion, and rupture properties of bacterial biofilms.

Our current projects include:

Characterization of bio-membrane mechanics as a function of susceptibiliy

Development of predictive models based on bio-mechanical response metrics

Development of intervention strategies based on membrane disruption using nanomaterials


Read about or most recent work:

• Lawrence X. Webb, William Wagner, David Carroll, Holly Tyler, Faith Coldren, Eileen Martin, and The Multidisciplinary Collaboration for the Study of Inflammation and Repair Group (MCSIR), Osteomyelitis and Intraosteoblastic Staphylococcus aureus JOURNAL OF SURGICAL ORTHOPAEDIC ADVANCES 16 (2) (2007)
• Faith M. Coldren, Elizabeth L. Palavecino, Nicole H. Levi, William D. Wagner, Thomas L. Smith, Beth P. Smith, Lawrence X. Webb, David L. Carroll, “Encapsulated Staphylococcus aureus strains vary in adhesiveness assessed by atomic force microscopy”, Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part A DOI 10.1002/jbm.a.31973 (2008)
• F. Coldren, K. Foteinopoulou, D. Carroll, M. Laso. Modelling the effect of cell-associated polymeric fluid layers on force spectroscopy measurements. Part I: Model development. LANGMUIR   Volume: 24   Issue: 17   Pages: 9575-9587  SEP 2 2008.
• F. Coldren, K. Foteinopoulou, W.M.H. Verbeeten, D. Carroll, M. Laso. Modelling the effect of cell-associated polymeric fluid layers on force spectroscopy measurements. Part II: Experimental results and comparison with model predictions. LANGMUIR   Volume: 24   Issue: 17   Pages: 9588-9597 SEP 2 2008.