RAMEN - Rational Design of Mechano-Bactericidal Surfaces using Metal-Organic Frameworks

The RAMEN project aims to develop mechano-bactericidal (MB) surfaces using metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) to combat biofilm-related issues and antimicrobial resistance.

Bacterial biofilms, which commonly form on medical and industrial surfaces, are highly resistant to conventional antibiotics and contribute significantly to global challenges in healthcare, food packaging, and marine biofouling. Biofilm formation starts with bacterial attachment on surfaces, after which bacteria proliferate and adhere to each other within a self-produced extracellular polymeric matrix. Therefore, preventing the initial attachment of bacteria to a surface could be an effective mitigation strategy to slow down or even preclude the formation of mature biofilms. Inspired by natural nanostructures, MB surfaces physically rupture bacterial cells, offering an alternative antibacterial strategy. 

MOFs are emerging porous materials with crystalline structures, designable geometry, and tailorable chemical composition. With their access to various morphologies, including sharp-point shape crystal growth, we propose that MOFs could be used to create MB surfaces as building blocks using facile and economical fabrication processes with the scalability required for real-life applications.

This project focuses on precisely controlling nanoscale texture parameters, such as pin length, diameter, and density, to optimize antibiofilm performance for different bacterial species. It also addresses key challenges in MOF-based surface fabrication, including orientation, geometry, and distribution of nanoscale features. By integrating controllable MOF synthesis, surface assembly, and in vitro validation, the project seeks to deliver scalable and efficient MOF MB surfaces.