Bacteria and Materials Interactions
The Bacteria&Materials Interaction Group focuses on understanding, predicting and controlling material-bacteria interactions for health-related applications. In particular, we combine interdisciplinary knowledge in the pursuit of understanding how bacteria adhere to surfaces, and how the adhesion can be controlled. Among our core strengths are the expertise ranging from microbiology to biomaterials, and the long-term experience in working with hospitals, academic partner institutions, and industry.
Our key research aspects include:
- Studying mechanisms of bacterial adhesion on surfaces, particularly bacterial mechanobiology, aiming at antibacterial and anti-adhesive surfaces
- Studying mechanisms of biofilm resistance toward antimicrobials
- Development of biosensors for detection of antimicrobial resistant bacteria
- Design of novel approaches for treatment of antimicrobial resistance
Our research areas
Bacteria-surface interactions
Upon sensing and interacting with surfaces, bacteria trigger a variety of changes in gene expression, including the genes essential for cell-cell communication, motility and surface attachment. Although changes in these phenotypes have been observed, the mechanisms used by bacterial cells for sensing and responding to surfaces are not well understood. To develop novel classes of materials that inhibit or reduce bacterial adhesion or proliferation, a better understanding of these mechanisms is necessary. Our group is interested in studying the underlining mechanisms of surface sensing at the molecular level and the consequent impact on cell adhesion.
We have close collaborations with Dr. Dominik Abt (Cantonal Hospital St. Gallen), (Dr. Kurt Ruffieux (protecturo), Prof. Leo Eberl (University of Zurich), Prof. Henny van der Mei (University Medical Center Groningen) and Prof. Songmei Wu (Beijing Jiaotong University). We greatly acknowledge support from Innosuisse.
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) of biofilm
The majority of infections are caused by bacterial biofilms. Bacteria living in biofilms can tolerate much higher antibiotic concentrations compared to planktonic bacteria and survive long enough to evolve antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Our group aims to investigate how bacteria generate resistant during biofilm formation on medical devices. This enables to gain more insight into the underlying mechanisms can then be leveraged to develop novel antimicrobial strategies to prevent biofilm-associated infection and AMR.
We have close collaboration with Prof. Jeremy Webb (University of Southampton), Prof. Henny van der Mei (University Medical Center Groningen), Dr. Frank Schreiber (BAM) and Dr. Christian Ahrens (Agroscope). We greatly acknowledge the support from the Swiss National Science Foundation.
Biosensors for detection of antimicrobial resistant bacteria
We combine material science, chemistry, and biology to design non-invasive biosensors highly specific for resistant bacteria. The biosensors, including those for evaluation of pneumonia etiology, dental diseases and sepsis, have potential to allow surgeons to achieve rapid diagnosis and initiate appropriate treatment timely.
Diverse projects are carried out in close collaboration with Dr. Werner Albrich and Dr. Christian Kahlert (Cantonal Hospital St. Gallen), Dr. Saso Jezernik and Dr Christian Jäggi (Bioinitials), Dr. Silvia Generelli (CSEM), Dr. Stefan Stübinger (University of Basel). We greatly acknowledge support from Innosuisse.
Novel approaches for treatment of antimicrobial resistance
To reduce development of antimicrobial resistance, we utilize natural materials, hazard-free and easily accessible approaches to replace antibiotics to treat biofilm associated chronic wounds. These bioinspired wound dressings not only allow elimination of biofilms but also promote tissue re-epithelization and wound healing.
This project is carried out in close collaboration with Dr. Zhihao Li (Triemli Hospital), Dr. Dominik Abt (Cantonal Hospital St. Gallen), Professor Sven Panke and Dr. Martin Held (ETHZ).

Biofilm Lab and characterization tools
Our group hosts a Biosafety Class II Lab where we work group works with different bacterial strains including Gram-negative and Gram-positive species and multi-resistant pathogens. We study biofilms in microtiter plates, flow chambers, as well as microfluidic systems under static or dynamic conditions. Bacterial adhesion and biofilms on surfaces are analyzed by different methods such as Crystal violet assays, Fluorescence assays, Microscopy (Wide-field, CLSM, SEM), Real-time quantitative PCR.
Team
Hervé Straub
PhD Student
herve.straub@empa.ch
Keywords: microfluidics, optical microscopy, in vitro biofilm assays, bacteria and material interactions
Jules Valentin
PhD Student
jules.valentin@empa.ch
Keywords: Microbiology, molecular biology, interface bacteria/material
Fei Pan
PhD Student
fei.pan@empa.ch
Keywords: Biointerface construction, Biomaterial & Biosensor design, Biomaterial & Biointerface characterization
Marc Tala
Project Employee
marc.tala@empa.ch
Keywords: bacterial culture, microbiology, in vitro biofilm assays, probiotics
Flavia Zuber
Laboratory technician
flavia.zuber@empa.ch
Microbiology, in-vitro biofilm assays, cell culture, cytotoxicity testing
Stefanie Altenried
Laboratory technician
stefanie.altenried@empa.ch
In vitro biofilm formation and assessment, Microbiology, Biotechnology, molecule biology
Dr. Zhihao Li
Guest scientist
zhihaoli@empa.ch
Keywords: chronic wounds, probiotics, ex vivo skin model, wound dressing, surgery