I/U Center for Biosurfaces The University of Memphis Site

Dr. M. Shah Jahan, Site Director
The University of Memphis
Department of Physics
216 Manning Hall
Memphis, TN 38152
Telephone:  (901) 678-2620
Fax:           (901) 678-2410

The University of Memphis site of the IUCB involves a number of diverse areas related to the interactions of biological elements and surfaces.  It combines the strengths of two Schools within the University: the Herff College of Engineering and the School of Arts and Sciences.  In the Herff College, the major activity in this area occurs in the Department of Biomedical Engineering; activities include studies related to blood-surface interactions leading to thrombosis, testing of novel blood compatible materials, blood and vascular cell interaction with biological and prosthetic interfaces and physical factors influencing cellular function.  In the School of Arts and Sciences, the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Cell Sciences (DMMCS) and the Departments of Physics and Chemistry have been actively involved in Center-supported studies.  In the Department of Physics, Dr. Shah Jahan has used novel spectroscopic techniques to evaluate the production of free radicals in sterilized implants.

The long-range intent of the site at the University is to develop a better understanding of the surface characteristics of naturally occurring biological materials and artificially created prosthetic materials which interact with each other.  It will be emphasized that more desirable outcomes between naturally occurring elements (cells, proteins, tissues, etc.) and fabricated materials will require a basic understanding of the response of both types of materials to both physical forces (stresses, stretching) and chemical alterations (pH, ionic strength, lytic agents, etc.).  The basic requirements for such an improved understanding are related to the ability to (1) adequately fabricate and characterize the various materials being studied; (2) control the environment to which the materials are exposed; and, (3) evaluate the resultant behavior  using  a variety of functional tests.