Lithography and laser system supplier Ultratech Inc. has announced a research collaboration with professor Thomas J. Webster at Northeastern University in Boston to study the use of nanomaterials produced via atomic layer deposition (ALD) for medical applications. "We are very excited to embark on this collaboration with Ultratech-CNT,” Webster said. “While we are in the early stages of this study, the initial results of our work suggest that the materials and processes we are developing could have long-range impact in this field." Initial research has focused on inhibiting bacterial growth and inflammation while promoting cell and tissue growth. "This type of work is a marked departure from the traditional applications and uses for ALD and dramatically opens up a new field where material science and life sciences intersect,” said Ritwik Bhatia, senior research scientist at Ultratech-CNT. “I am extremely pleased to be part of this research program and excited by the potential benefits for healthy surgical outcomes that this research represents." Ultratech designs, builds and markets manufacturing systems for the global technology industry, serving the nanotechnology and front- and back-end semiconductor markets.