Cu-based bactericidal salts for biomedical applications

TN France; Nantes; Sur place; EUR 40 000 - 60 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

An innovative research opportunity awaits you at a prestigious institute focused on combating nosocomial infections through the development of advanced antibacterial materials. This PhD position will allow you to delve into the synthesis and characterization of copper-based bactericidal salts, contributing to groundbreaking research aimed at enhancing hospital safety. Collaborating with leading laboratories, you'll explore the efficacy and stability of these materials, paving the way for environmentally friendly solutions in healthcare. If you're passionate about materials science and public health, this position offers a unique chance to make a significant impact.

Qualifications

• Experience in synthesizing and characterizing inorganic materials.
• Knowledge of antibacterial mechanisms and applications in healthcare.

Responsabilités

• Synthesize and characterize Cu-based bactericidal salts for hospital applications.
• Study stability of materials in contact with culture media and detergents.

Connaissances

Synthesis of inorganic materials

Characterization techniques

Research in bactericidal mechanisms

Formation

Master's degree in Chemistry or related field

PhD in Materials Science (in progress)

Outils

X-Ray Diffraction (XRD)

Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)

Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM)

Description du poste

Job Description:

Place: Institute of Molecules and Materials of Le Mans (IMMM) – Le Mans University

Gross monthly salary: €

Context of the PhD position:

Bacterial pathogens causing Nosocomial Infections (NIs) pose increasing challenges to hospitals, both in clinical treatment and in preventing transmission. These bacteria have developed resistance to multiple antibiotics due to misuse. The emergence, evolution, and spread of resistance are major public health concerns highlighted by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO). To combat this, research focuses on antibacterial inorganic materials capable of self-disinfecting surfaces. The IMMM host team is researching copper-based materials that can kill these bacteria, with results published in high-impact journals.

For more information, visit the following websites:

PhD position:

This position is available from November within the collaborative ANR project FICuS (Fight nosocomial Infections with Cu-based Salts), coordinated by Gwenaël Corbel at IMMM (theme “Inorganic Materials”). The project involves two other laboratories:

• PHarmacology of Antimicrobial Agents and antibioResistance (PHA2R, INSERM U – University of Poitiers)
• Laboratory of Chemistry and Biology of Metals (LCBM, UMR CNRS CEA – University of Grenoble)

The project aims to develop materials that can kill bacteria while resisting detergents and being environmentally friendly. The PhD student will synthesize and characterize Cu-based bactericidal salts (crystal structure, composition, size, morphology) and deposit them on various substrates. Additionally, the student will study the stability of these particles and substrates in contact with culture media and detergents over time to understand their bactericidal mechanisms and potential hospital applications.