Skip to main content
European Commission logo print header

Development of antibacterial MetAllic Glass mICrofibers

Project description

Novel antibacterial metallic glass microfibers

The major cause of metal implants failure is infection due to bacterial biofilm formation on their surface. The EU-funded MAGIC project proposes the development of Zr-Cu-Ag metallic glasses that have intrinsic antibacterial properties without the need of additional coating. The development of this novel class of metals requires an understanding of their antibacterial mechanism. The project's main objective is to discover the underlying antibacterial mechanism of innovative Zr-Cu-Ag metallic glasses though a novel interdisciplinary approach combining materials engineering with advanced biological analysis of bacteria. The project aims to fabricate the best found Zr-Cu-Ag metallic glass in the form of microfibers as a proof-of-concept for the application of antibacterial metallic glasses in the medical industry.

Objective

The proposed training-through-research aims to develop novel antibacterial materials for medical devices based on Zr-Cu-Ag metallic glasses in the form of microfibers. The major cause of metal implants retrieval is infection due to bacterial biofilm formation on their surface. Many studies have been conducted on the development of antibacterial coating on metallic implants, but evidence has shown numerous drawbacks associated with coatings including their lack of durability. “MAGIC” project proposes the development of Zr-Cu-Ag metallic glasses with generic and intrinsic antibacterial properties which makes them capable of battling antibiotic resistance bacterial infection with no further required coating. Meaningful development of this novel class of intrinsic antibacterial metals requires a fundamental understanding of their antibacterial mechanism which to date is not well-understood. Therefore, “MAGIC” project fundamental ambition is to discover the underlying antibacterial mechanism of innovative Zr-Cu-Ag metallic glasses though a novel interdisciplinary approach, combing materials engineering knowledge of metallic glasses with advanced biological analysis of bacteria. On the engineering side, the main antibacterial contributors “chemical composition” and “surface energy” of Zr-Cu-Ag metallic glass will be modified and controlled; On the biological analysis side, bacterial genetic and metabolic response to these changes will be studied by coupling basic metabolic assays with next-generation sequencing and omics techniques. Furthermore, to facilitate the integration of antibacterial metallic glasses in the medical industry, “MAGIC” has an applied ambition to fabricate the best found Zr-Cu-Ag metallic glass (in terms of chemical composition and surface energy) in the form of microfibers for the very first time. Microfibers have higher surface areas and are easier to be formed into different shapes, offering added value to their applicability in industry.

Coordinator

POLITECNICO DI TORINO
Net EU contribution
€ 171 473,28
Address
CORSO DUCA DEGLI ABRUZZI 24
10129 Torino
Italy

See on map

Region
Nord-Ovest Piemonte Torino
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Links
Total cost
€ 171 473,28