Investigation of Insect Wing Structures that Enable Anti-Microbial
Abstract
The primary objective of this project is to study the natural insect wing surface, its chemical and structural characteristics, how it relates to its environmental habitat and behavior, and determine the means and techniques to replicate the function. The research project is proposed to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Engineering Research and Development Center (ERDC) at the Construction Engineering Research Laboratory (CERL) in Champaign, Illinois. The Recipient’s specific stated objectives. They will characterize the wing nanostructure of multiple flying insects local to Illinois, and determine how structure relates to anti-microbial properties. They will also spatially resolve and characterize the chemical composition of these insect wings to understand the chemical component of antibacteriological function. The goal is to use these design rules to replicate the insect wing surface structures in the laboratory as well as functionalize the surfaces with molecules identified in the chemical analysis to create anti-microbial surfaces. These efforts will elucidate the physicochemical properties of natural nanostructured surfaces with bactericidal and hydrophobic properties leading to synthetic mimics.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Oct 31, 2018
- Source ID
- W9132T1620011
Entities
People
- Nenad Miljkovic
Organizations
- Engineer Research and Development Center
- United States Army
- University of Illinois system