Dr Lachlan H Yee BSc (Hons) Industrial Chemistry (UNSW), PhD Polymer Chemistry (UNSW) Dr Yee is a lecturer of chemistry in the School of Environment, Science and Engineering at Southern Cross University, Lismore, NSW, Australia. "The focus of my research is to develop environmentally benign and sustainable solutions to the challenges of pollution, biofouling and the need for active surfaces to combat exposure of materials to natural elements. This is achieved by using polymer chemistry in combination with naturally derived molecules to develop bioactive polymer surfaces that draw inspiration from nature (Biomimicry)." Examples of Dr Yee's research: • Living paints - Traditionally, toxic biocides were used to control marine biofouling. Alternatively, by combining bacteria capable of producing antifouling chemicals (e.g. anti-fungal) in a polymer to keeps them alive, it is possible to have a living antifouling system. • Biocatalytic coatings - Food surfaces and medical implants need to be bacteria free. Surfaces capable of delivering enzymes and signalling molecules use naturally occurring biochemicals to manipulate bacterial infection. These biochemicals can breakdown attachment glues or alternatively signal the bacteria to disperse from surfaces. • Hydrogel assisted bioremediation - Solutions required to stimulate natural organisms to break down harmful chemicals in soil can percolate too quickly through sandy or low holding soils. Polymer additives could slow the movement of a bioremediation solution through the soil thus increasing the effectiveness due to a longer contact time. Dr Yee is a chartered chemist and office bearer of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute, which is a valuable Australian resource for learning chemistry both in Australia and internationally.
Journal articles
Surfactant enhanced lipase containing films characterized by confocal laser scanning microscopy (with Menuk B. Jayawardena, Ian J. Rainbow, Peter Bergquist, Christopher Such, Peter D. Steinberg, and Staffan J. Kjelleberg), Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces (2011)
Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) in combination with a fluorescently labeling enzyme dye, LavaPurple™, was...
Development of a treatment solution for reductive dechlorination of hexachloro-1,3-butadiene in vadose zone soil (with Vibeke Aagaard, Angela Johnstone, Matthew Lee, Staffan J. Kjelleberg, and Michael Manefield), Biodegradation (2010)
The biodegradation of chlorinated organics in vadose zone soils is challenging owing to the presence...
Photochromic spirooxazines functionalized with oligomers: investigation of core−oligomer interactions and photomerocyanine isomer interconversion using NMR spectroscopy and DFT (with Tracey L. Hanley, Richard A. Evans, Thomas P. Davis, and Graham E. Ball), Journal of Organic Chemistry (2010)
Photochromic spirooxazines functionalized with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) oligomers were monitored using NMR...
Environmental degradation and biofouling of 'green' plastics including short and medium chain length polyhydroxyalkanoate (with Catherine A. Woolnough, Tim Charlton, and John R. Foster), Polymer International (2009)
Biopolymers derived from natural resources are potential alternatives to recalcitrant synthetic plastics; however, studies investigating...
Surface changes in polyhydroxyalkanoate films during biodegradation and biofouling (with Catherine A. Woolnough, Tim Charlton, Maria Sarris, and John R. Foster), Polymer International (2008)
Background: Despite the recognition that Microbial play a role in environmental degradation of bioplastics, few...
Books
'Green Plastics': surface rugosity, biofouling and biodegradation: the relationship between surface roughness, microbial colonisation and biodegradation of environmentally-friendly 'green' plastics (with Catherine A. Woolnough and John R. Foster), School of Environmental Science and Management Papers (2009)
Book chapters
Bacterial adhesion and marine fouling (with Tilmann Harder), Advances in marine antifouling coatings and technologies (2009)
Conference publications
Sodium alginate facilitates reductive dechlorination of hexachloro-1,3-butadiene in vadose zone soil (with Vibeke Aagaard, Angela Johnstone, Staffan J. Kjelleberg, and Michael Manefield), 11th Pacific Polymer Conference (PPC11) (2009)
Living paint: bacteria in marine antifouling (with Carola Holmström, Nigel C. Lewin, Staffan J. Kjelleberg, and Peter D. Steinberg), Surface Coatings Association Australia Conference (2008)
Inhibition of fouling by Pseudoalteromonas tunicata immobilised in κ-carrageenan beads (with Carola Holmström, Evi T. Fuary, Nigel C. Lewin, Staffan J. Kjelleberg, and Peter D. Steinberg), Marine science in a changing world: the Australian Marine Sciences Association (AMSA) 45th Annual Conference (2007)
Antifouling solutions that leave little or no impact in the world’s oceans are constantly being...
Living paint: towards a marine antifouling coating (with Nigel C. Lewin, Carola Holmström, Evi T. Fuary, Staffan J. Kjelleberg, and Peter D. Steinberg), 29th Australasian Polymer Symposium (APS) (2007)