Please consider attending the following: MATERIALS ENGINEERING SEMINAR "Design and Functionalization of Electrospun Polymeric Membranes with Metal-based Antimicrobial Capacity" By Temitope Q. Aminu Purdue MSE Ph.D. Preliminary Exam Advisor: Professor David F. Bahr ABSTRACT The pernicious spread of antimicrobial resistance in pathogenic microorganisms is a growing scourge, creating a virulent mutation of microbes impervious to prevailing treatments. Water, a necessary resource for most biological or physiological functions, is a hospitable habitat for many of these pathogenic microbes, being a medium for transmission to humans. Moreover, the ubiquity of these microbes makes possible water contamination after centralized treatment procedures. Nanoscopic antimicrobial metals are a reemerging disinfecting agent due to their toxic potency against various bacterial strains. Furthermore, polymeric fibers provide suitable anchoring and stability for metallic nanoparticles as well as a robust architecture for water filtration membranes. In light of these properties, incorporating metallic nanoparticles on polymeric fibers engenders functionally exotic composites for use as antimicrobial water treatment. In this review, we will discuss the electrospinning process in light of creating fibrous architectures for filtration membranes. Classically, fiber dimensions and morphology underpin filtration efficiency. This review will delineate factors modulating dimensions of electrospun fibers. In addition, mechanisms of metal-mediated toxicity in microorganisms as well as the expediency of metallic nanomaterials will be discussed. Additionally, the electroless deposition technique for nanoparticle immobilization on electrospun membranes will be discussed. Future research plan will be briefly presented against a backdrop of applicability of these composite membranes. Date: Monday, December 18, 2017 Time: 12:00 P.M. Place: ARMS 3115