Silica-Derived Nitric Oxide Delivery Vehicles as Anti-Plaque Agents

查佩尔山的北卡罗来纳州大学材料研究部的生物材料项目授予该奖项，目的是进行一氧化氮（NO）释放二氧化硅纳米材料支架的研究，通过局部NO释放减少牙齿生物膜的形成。从事这项工作的基本原理是基于一氧化氮在我们身体对病原体的免疫反应中的核心作用，广谱抗菌活性以及通过生物膜的快速扩散。二氧化硅纳米材料允许可调的性能，如NO存储，尺寸和表面电荷，并将使这些性能的杀菌活性和细胞毒性的研究。 在确定了杀死嗜热菌的最佳颗粒特性后，该项目将研究消除已形成的生物膜。这项研究将建立关于纳米材料特性对抗菌活性影响的新知识。该项目预计将为研究生和本科生提供通过基础，变革和发现研究将材料科学与微生物学相结合的经验。此外，该项目将利用明确需要了解纳米颗粒细菌动力学，通过研究活动吸引科学和工程中代表性不足的人群。由于细菌菌斑生物膜引起的蛀牙是全球普遍存在且代价高昂的健康问题。虽然通过对公共供水进行氟化物处理和例行牙齿清洁取得了重大进展，但蛀牙仍然是一个需要加强治疗的重大问题。 2006年，仅在美国，牙科保健费用就占医疗保健总支出的7.4%。 在这项提案中，研究人员寻求开发新的杀菌纳米材料来对抗产生菌斑的细菌。这项工作旨在阐明纳米材料的性质（例如，大小、电荷和一氧化氮释放动力学）影响其对产生菌斑细菌的杀生物活性。因此，该研究对于实现具有最大治疗效果的药物释放纳米颗粒至关重要。这项工作也将对学生产生重大影响。除了为学生提供研究项目，使材料科学，化学和微生物学的接口培训，研究将被用来捕捉科学和工程通过专业的研究经验的代表性不足的人群的注意。

This award by the Biomaterials program in the Division of Materials Research to University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is to carryout studies in nitric oxide (NO)-releasing silica nanomaterial-scaffolds that reduce dental biofilm formation via localized NO delivery. The rationale for pursuing this work is based on nitric oxide's central role in our body's immune response to pathogens, broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, and rapid diffusion through biofilms. Silica nanomaterials allow for tunable properties such as NO storage, size and surface charge, and will enable the study of such properties on bactericidal activity and cytotoxicity. After determining the optimum particle properties for killing planktonic bacteria, the project will study the eradication of established biofilms. The research will establish new knowledge regarding the effects of nanomaterial properties on antibacterial activity. This project is expected in providing graduate and undergraduate students with experiences that interface materials science with microbiology through fundamental, transformative, and discovery research. In addition, this project will take advantage of the clear need for understanding nanoparticle-bacteria dynamics to engage underrepresented populations in science and engineering through the research activities.Tooth decay due to bacteria plaque biofilms is a prevalent and costly health problem worldwide. Although substantial progress has been made through fluoride treatment of public water supplies and routine dental cleaning, tooth decay remains a significant problem requiring intense treatment. In 2006, dental care costs amounted to 7.4% of the total healthcare spending in the U.S. alone. In this proposal, the investigators seek to develop new bactericidal nanomaterials against plaque producing bacteria. This work aims to elucidate how the properties of the nanomaterial (e.g., size, charge, and nitric oxide release kinetics) influence its biocidal activity against plaque producing bacteria. The research is thus critical to the implementation of drug-releasing nanoparticles with maximum therapeutic efficacy. The proposed work will also have significant impact on students. In addition to providing students with research projects that enables training at the interface of material science, chemistry and microbiology, the research will be used to capture the attention of underrepresented populations in science and engineering through specialized research experiences.