Materials surfaces and biosurfaces

Research topics

• Organisation of surfaces at the nanometer scale - from materials to living cells :
  • development of methods : XPS, AFM; chemical composition, organisation
  • dynamics of surface organisation at the interface and within adsorbed phases
  • physical or chemical modification of surfaces
  • smart surface coatings and cleanability
  • adsorption of macromolecules : proteins, amphiphilic polymers
• Interfaces between materials and biological systems
  • influence of surfaces on enzymatic activity
  • relationship between surface properties of a substrate, protein adsorption and mammalian cells adhesion
  • nanostructure of adsorbed protein layers
  • effect of subcellular size heterogeneities on cell behaviour and biocompatibility
    

Ongoing projects

Gielen Michaël

Biofilms disposal and in depth cleaning (projet NETZYM)

Fleith Sandrine

Mise au point d'un matériau catalytique granulaire recyclable pour l'épuration des eaux (projet LACOMAT)

X

Elaboration of "smart materials" to improve the cleanability of stainless steel (projet SMARTNET).

Specific techniques  

• Principal techniques
  • X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS)
  • Atomic force microscopy (AFM)
  • Measurement of wetting properties (sessile drop method, Wilhelmy plate method)
  • Measurement of surface electrical properties (electrophoretic mobility, streaming potential)
  • Image analysis
  • Cell adhesion tests
  • Culture of microorganisms
• Acces to :
  • Measurement of specific surface area
  • Time-of-flight secondary ions mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS)
  • Mammalian cell culture
    

Head of the group

P. Rouxhet - C.V.
               -