The Open Innovation Hub has access to a suite of state-of-the-art confocal multi-photon microscopes that can be used on fluorescently labelled bacteria to investigate the behaviour of live cells at surfaces, as well as to quantify the percentage of dead cells using live/dead staining protocols.
The versatile set of instruments and accessories available, allows us to analyse both transparent and opaque materials, while simultaneously controlling environmental variables (i.e. temperature, atmospheric moisture, CO2 content) to reproduce real-life conditions. This imaging technique is highly complementary to other analytical tools (e.g. electron microscopy, Raman, AFM) and provides insights on the mechanism of action of antimicrobial surfaces and the role of surface properties on bacteria attachment and growth.