ACPA Seminar Series: Anti-Fouling Surface Chemistry for Biocompatible Medical Device Materials and Sensors for Early-Stage Cancer Detection

Welcome to the ACPA Seminar Series, a monthly webinar series including various topics of interest related to advancing the Chemical Profession in Alberta. For the next seminar in this series, we are happy to introduce Professor Michael Thompson, for 'Anti-Fouling Surface Chemistry for Biocompatible Medical Device Materials and Sensors for Early-Stage Cancer Detection' on April 28, 2026. Each seminar will be eligible for 1 PDC credit.

Agenda

6:45 PM MT - Networking

7:00 PM MT - Seminar

Speaker

Michael Thompson

Professor Michael Thompson was appointed Lecturer in Instrumental Analysis at Loughborough University in 1971. He then moved to the University of Toronto where he is now Professor of Bioanalytical Chemistry. He is recognized internationally for his pioneering work over many years in the area of research into new biosensor technologies. His research is centered on the surface chemistry of proteins, cells and bacteria. An aspect of this work concerns the detection of biomarkers in complex media such as serum. Thompson has served on the Editorial Boards of a number of major international journals including Analytical Chemistry and The Analyst and is currently Editor-in-Chief of the monograph series “Detection Science” for the Royal Society of Chemistry, UK. He has been awarded many prestigious international prizes for his research including The Robert Boyle Gold Medal of the Royal Society of Chemistry, The Elsevier Prize in Biosensor and Bioelectronics Technology, the E.W.R. Steacie Award of the Chemical Society of Canada, and recently the 2023 Royal Society of Chemistry Horizons Prize in Analytical Science.

Seminar

Our research concerns the development of a chemispassive surface that is being employed to modify a number of devices used in medicine. The interaction of substrates with the components of biological fluids has constituted a research problem over many years. In our work, we have designed an ultra-thin surface modification monolayer that displays remarkable antifouling properties. For applications, we are working on surface modification of materials used in bypass surgery and renal dialysis, and in catheter technology, and on prevention of fouling of a biosensor employed for cancer detection. With regard to bacterial adhesion on materials used for catheter fabrication, we have worked primarily with samples containing relatively high concentrations of E.coli, pseudomonas, candida (fungus) and staphylococcus aureus both in static and dynamic experiments. The results of these experiments involving extensive fluorescence microscopy show a dramatic reduction in bacterial adhesion caused by the ultra-thin covalently-attached monolayer. In terms of thrombogenicity, it is known that micro-clots can form on polymers exposed to blood leading to medical consequences such as cognitive disability. Our research on the polymer (or steel) surface-blood interaction shows an over 90% reduction of thrombus formation is achieved. Importantly, unlike many coatings, our surface-modified materials can be subjected to standard sterilization protocols without suffering damage. With respect to cancer detection we are developing an electrochemical sensor for the detection of an early stage biomarker for ovarian cancer. This involves both surface anti-fouling chemistry in serum combined with an attached probe for lysophosphatidic acid, the marker of choice. We are now able to detect the maker at concentrations reflective of stage 1 disease development.

Registration

Admission: FREE

Registration Deadline April 27, 2026

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Register Today

If you have questions, contact the ACPA office at [email protected].

Note: The ACPA seminar series is a professional development event and the opinions of the speaker are not ACPA policy.