DEPARTMENTAL SEMINAR

DePARTMENT OF CHEMICAL AND BIOMOLECULAR ENGINEERING

Faculty of Engineering

National University of Singapore

4 Engineering Drive 4  Singapore 117576
Tel: (65) 6516  2186    Fax: (65) 6779 1936

TOPIC

Chemical and Physical Cues in Marine Fouling

SPEAKER

Prof. Michael Grunze

Chair, Institute of Applied Physical Chemistry, Ruprecht-Karls-University of Heidelberg, Germany

HOST 

Prof. Chung Tai-Shung

DATE

2 October 2009 (Friday)

TIME

10.30 a.m.

VENUE

E5-02-32 

SYNOPSIS

 In this talk I will compare common features of non-fouling surfaces used in marine environments and biomedical applications. Marine fouling is a serious problem in energy conservation for shipping, water purification, and marine aquaculture. Present approaches involve toxic chemicals, and there is an urgent need to develop environmentally benign strategies for non-fouling surfaces. We find that chemistry is highly specific to different organisms, whereas molecular conformation, surface charge and surface topography can be indiscriminate. I discuss how chemical composition and surface topographic features in the nano-and micrometer length scale influence settlement behavior measured by in-line optical holography and how different design concepts for non-fouling surfaces can be combined. For Ulva Spores (common green macro algae) a minimum of settlement is observed on hydrophilic topographic structures with specific dimensions. We will discuss these results in the context of the life cycle of Ulva and a “maximum footprint hypothesis” for cellular adhesion.

BIOGRAPHY

 Prof. Michael Grunze, Chair, Institute of Applied Physical Chemistry, Ruprecht-Karls-University of Heidelberg, received a PhD in Physical Chemistry from Freie Universität Berlin in 1974. He became the professor of University of Heidelberg, Germany since 1987 and achieved various honors and awards such as J.G. McGregor Distinguished Scientist and Max Planck Research Award. Prof. Grunze has published more than 360 peer-reviewed papers in international Journals, 4 books, more than 50 additional publications. His research interests includes surface chemistry and interface physics, biocompatible surface coatings, non fouling surfaces for marine applications, adhesion science, self assembly of organic mono- and multilayers, non-linear optical laser spectroscopy on surfaces, x-ray absorption and x-ray emission spectroscopy, x-ray microscopy, in-line holography, biochemical sensors.

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