The focus of the Center for Biosurfaces’ research program is on understanding, prediction, and control of biological adhesion.  Multidisciplinary studies of the mechanistic details (including physical-chemistry, biochemistry, and biophysics) of “conditioning” film formation, biopolymer deposition, and cell and protein adhesion to synthetic materials and model tissues are in progress.  A Core Program is managed by the Center’s directors, together with Projects selected, structured, and prioritized by the Members Advisory Board.  The Center for Biosurfaces’ research program shifts and evolves as the ongoing projects answer current questions, uncover new questions, and as the membership and interests of the Advisory Board change.  

These are the Long Term Goals and Objectives of the IUCB:

 (1) Characterization of the surface chemical/physical properties of various synthetic substrata that promote or resist bioadhesion, in aqueous media of varied organic/inorganic content, including various forms of materials contacting the lungs, eyes, mouth, skin, or interior body environments of humans and other living systems.

 (2) Determination of the surface properties of biofluids and cells as they engage in interactions with well-characterized materials, giving special attention to the dynamics of media flow, cell arrival, surface modification, bio-attachment and -- finally -- stability of the attachment mechanisms, as observed in wound healing, for instance, or in water treatment systems.

 (3) Documentation of reactions between cells and adjacent cells, films and surrounding media, and other cross-reactions, with particular attention to technology that may control these interactions to either promote or prevent bioadhesion in practical environmental, occupational, or therapeutic situations.

 (4) Scale-up of these biotechnologies to macrosystem processes, including filtration and purification, that utilize safe and effective structural materials and formulations for improved health and comfort. 

National Science Foundation Undergraduate Projects

A National Science Foundation REU award supports Women, Minorities and Disabled Undergraduate Students. 

National Science Foundation TIE Projects

IUCB participated in a National Science Foundation-funded "TIE" project to study the Detection and Control of Micro-Biocontamination in Ultrapure Water Processes.  The project included the following sites:  1) Center for Microcontamination Control (CMC), University of Arizona; 2) The Queen's University Environmental Science and Technology Research Centre (QUESTOR), The Queens' University of Belfast; 3) Industry/University Center for Biosurfaces  (IUCB), University at Buffalo; 4) Center for Environmentally Benign Semiconductor Manufacturing (CEBSM), University of Arizona; and 5) Hazardous Substance Management Research Center (HSMRC), New Jersey Institute of Technology.