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A Novel Self-Disinfecting Nanomaterial for Future Space Travel

CSEF · 2023 Microbiology (General) First Award

Fan Kara · 12

Overview

A big challenge of long term space travel and habitation is bacteria proliferation in the spacecraft and space station. Bacteria form threatening biofilms that jeopardize equipment and the health of astronauts. Strict quarantine, antibiotics coating, and cleaning procedures were ineffective in preventing biofilm contamination. In this study, I created nanomaterials that can inhibit bacterial growth without the use of water and cleaning chemicals. The antibacterial mechanisms of the nanomaterials were analyzed by comparing how polymer polarity affects bacterial growth. I hypothesized that polar polymers with nanopillars prevented more bacteria growth than nonpolar polymers. Nanopillars were fabricated on two polar polymers, polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) and polycarbonate (PC), and two nonpolar polymers, cyclic olefin copolymer (COC) and high-density polyethylene (HPDE) via hot embossing nanoimprint lithography. Raman spectroscopy was used to identify and characterize the polymeric films a month after imprinting. Pseudomonas (PAO1) bacteria were incubated on each surface and biofilm growth was visualized with scanning electron microscopy. The colony forming units of PAO1 growth were measured. I discovered that polar nanopillar polymers significantly prevented bacteria growth compared to the control ( 67% to 83% decrease in bacteria on nanopillars) while nonpolar polymers did not prevent bacteria growth (20% to 30% increase in bacteria on nanopillars). The results suggest that electrostatic interactions between polar nanopillar surfaces and bacterial membrane proteins yield high antibacterial effects. Therefore, this innovative nanomaterial could prevent biofilm buildup in microgravity environments and microbial contamination of spacecraft and Advanced Life Support (ALS) modules.

Source coverage

This record comes from a published award list, not a complete project archive. Its abstract comes from CSEF's public project showcase as archived by the Internet Archive before judging (https://web.archive.org/web/20230401224130/https://ca-csef.zfairs.com/showcase/ShowcaseInfo?f=838e60b7-ea75-46e8-865c-fde4864244b3); the version presented may differ.

Awards (1)

Competition history

  • CSEF 2023 Microbiology (General) · Entry S1509

Resources

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