Xin Li​

 

Project title

Antimicrobial nanomaterials for medical implants

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Supervisors

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Professor Andrea O’Connor, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, The University of Melbourne

 

Dr Daniel Heath, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, The University of Melbourne

 

Professor Neil O’Brien-Simpson, Melbourne Dental School, The University of Melbourne

 

Xin Li is undertaking a PhD research project with the Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Melbourne. She has long held an interest in undertaking research since graduating with a Bachelor of Medicine (Dentistry) at Tianjin Medical University, China. While conducting research in cancer for the Master of Medicine (Dentistry) at Lanzhou University, Xin grew to appreciate the importance of technology in advancing treatments for patients. She progressed to enrolled in a Master of Engineering (Biomedical) majoring in biomedical engineering at the University of Melbourne as the research program would enable Xin to combine her knowledge in medicine with engineering skills. The research experience in the BioFab3D@ACMD facility in Melbourne has broadened her horizon in the biomaterials field. This encouraged her to embark on a PhD candidature to advance her biomedical engineering skills and capabilities.

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Xin’s PhD project aims to address anti-microbial challenges affecting medical implants. Medical implants-associated infections remain the concern of post-operative infections. This is mostly due to the application of biomaterials of the implants. Even though the drug delivery coupled system showed an antimicrobial capacity, the drug resistance of bacteria remains challenging.  Xin’s project focuses on anti-microbial nanomaterials for medical implants, aiming to improve the antimicrobial properties of skeletal reconstruction implants to reduce the risk of infection and minimize the potential development of microbial resistance.