Addressing Challenges with Bacteria

UMaine Alert

Posted: April 19, 2024 - 1:32 PM

At approximately 9:24 a.m. on Friday, April 19, a University of Maine graduate student was struck by a university vehicle on Long Road at the University of Maine campus in Orono. The student reports that they are at a local hospital with minor injuries.

Emergency services, including the Orono Fire Department, University Volunteer Ambulance Corps, University of Maine Police Department, Orono Police Department and Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene.

The university vehicle involved in the incident was a Chevrolet Express van. It was being operated by a university employee.

Counseling services and support are available for students, faculty or staff who may have been affected. The Counseling Center can be reached at 207-581-1392 and the Dean of Students Office can be reached at 207-581-1406.

The scene has been cleared and Long Road is now accessible. An investigation is being conducted by the University of Maine Police Department with assistance from the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office Crash Reconstruction Unit. Any witnesses to the incident are encouraged to contact Lt. Noel Santiago at noel.santiago@maine.edu.

For systems like water filters, implanted medical devices, and marine infrastructure, the formation of bacterial biofilms can lead to serious complications. New coatings are needed to prevent biofilm formation. Additionally, new methods are needed to detect when bacteria are present.

Our group aims to improve current anti-biofouling technology by utilizing block copolymer phase separation and controlled polymer synthesis to create new polymers to combat bacteria. We also create new polymer systems that interact with molecules produced by bacteria.

We are currently researching:

New methods to synthesize polymers with complex molecular architectures.

Amphiphilic bottlebrush block copolymers as anti-fouling coatings.

Bioconjugate copolymers to detect bacterial presence.

Addressing bacterial problems

Selected Publications

Flanders, M. J.; Gramlich, W. M. “Reversible-addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) mediated depolymerization of brush polymers.” Polymer Chemistry 2018, 9, 2328 – 2335.

Kerstetter, J. L.; Gramlich, W.M. “Nanometer-scale Self-Assembly of Amphiphilic Copolymers to Control and Prevent Biofouling.” Journal of Materials Chemistry B 2014, 2, 8043 – 8052.