BME: Engineering the Surface Chemistry of Nanoparticles: A Two-Staged Attack of Infection Biofilms

1032579DechoIntellectual Merit医院获得性（即医院内）感染和植入器械相关感染的抗生素耐药性增强的主要决定因素是细菌嵌入细胞外聚合物（EPS）。该提案寻求制造能够通过抗生素、群体感应猝灭剂和与纳米颗粒缀合的群体感应干扰剂杀死生物膜中的细菌的新型纳米颗粒。 穿透、分析和破坏嵌入在保护性EPS中的高度耐药细菌的多功能化纳米颗粒策略在概念上简单，但涉及复杂的化学，使用CLICK化学进行有效的合成，使用RAFT方法在每个纳米颗粒上进行大规模功能化。更广泛的影响这一建议的一个优势是纳米化学与生物膜微生物学研究的多学科联系及其对一系列生物膜的适用性。问题申请方提出了一个分四个阶段的外联计划，其中包括在小学开展外联活动，制作中学教学录像，在两个研究生课程中举办多场讲座，以及招募少数群体参加研究小组。

1032579DechoIntellectual MeritA major determinant in enhanced antibiotic resistance of hospital-acquired (i.e. nosocomial) infections, and implant-device associated infections is the embedding of bacteria in extracellular polymers (EPS). This proposal seeks to fabricate novel nanoparticles capable of killing bacteria in biofilms via antibiotics, quorum sensing quenchers, and quorum sensing disruptors conjugated to the nanoparticles. The mutlifunctionalized nanoparticle strategy of penetrating, analyzing and destroying highly resistant bacteria embedded in a protective EPS, is conceptually simple, but involves complex chemistry using CLICK chemistry for efficient synthesis and RAFT methodology for massive functionalization on each nanoparticle.Broader ImpactA strength of this proposal is the multidisciplinary linkage of nanochemistry with biofilm microbiology research and its applicability to a range of biofilm problems. The applicant proposes a 4-phased outreach plan, which includes outreach activities in elementary school, development of an instructional video for middle school, multiple lectures in the two graduate-level course and recruitment of minorities to the research group.