Project description
A new mathematical model to aid the study of biofilm formation on biomaterials
Most bacteria naturally form biofilms on surfaces. These self-organised cooperative community arrangements in which the bacteria are embedded in a self-produced polymer matrix enhance the bacteria's survival. Growth of biofilms on implanted medical devices such as the commonly used intravascular catheters, urinary catheters and orthopaedic implants is a significant source of healthcare-associated infections. Furthermore, the infections are not treatable with antibiotics alone. The EU-funded MATBFOB project is developing a model of the growth of bacterial biofilm. Following an experimental investigation to determine relevant model parameters, MATBFOB will develop the mathematical model, taking into account interactions between the bacteria and the biomaterial as well as the rate of nutrient uptake. This work will aid in the substrate design of surgical implants.
Objective
Biofilms play a pivotal role in healthcare-associated infections, especially those related to indwelling medical devices, such as intra-vascular and urinary catheters, cardiac pacemakers and orthopaedic implants. Many mathematical models have been developed to simulate and elucidate the main processes characterizing biofilm growth. Biofilm models have been widely acknowledged as a tool for fundamental understanding of wastewater treatment processes, the morphology of biofilm structures and for deciphering the manner in which they originate through the interaction of a couple of factors like: mass transfer, nutrient availability, detachment forces etc. However there has been very little or no endeavour to develop a suitable model for understanding the exact stages of microbial adhesion on biomaterials and the process of gradual establishment of microbial colonies on medical devices, considering the effect of substrate-microbe interactions . The proposed project consists of a brief and precise experimental part for investigating the initiation and progression of biofilm formation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a nosocomial pathogen, on implant surfaces through real-time monitoring.
The experimental observations will be used to mathematically model the process of growth of biofilm on a biomaterial surface, considering the effect of interactions of microbes with a specific substrate and the rate of nutrient uptake.The project will employ currently used mathematical tools to model the spatio-temporal dynamics of biofilm formation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa on different biomaterial surfaces.The model will help in visualising the manner and the rate at which bacterial infections can spread on a particular surface and correlate it with the surface properties. This will be the initiation of - model guided substrate design of implants- a brand new concept for implant manufacturers, orthopaedic surgeons, biomaterial scientists, microbiologists and biofilm modellers.
Fields of science
Keywords
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)Coordinator
EX4 4QJ Exeter
United Kingdom