Synthesis of new types of nanoparticles and their antimicrobial resistance

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Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) is one of the most serious threats globally with more than 25,000 patients dying in the EU/UK annually, and it is predicted that AMR bacteria will kill >10 million people by 2050. Economically, the loss to global GDP is predicted to be > £5 trillion over the next 40 years.The main objective of this project will be to synthesize new types of nanoparticles which will target and kill pathogens that they are at the priority list of the World Health Organization. The Kanaras group (http://www.licn.phys.soton.ac.uk/) has an international reputation and expertise in nanoparticle functionalization and nanoparticle-cell interactions. Recently, the group has developed chemical protocols to synthesize and functionalize various types of nanoparticles with bioactive molecules such as peptides, proteins and DNA, which possess multi-tasking roles such as selective sensing and killing of cancer cells, inhibition of angiogenesis, and enhanced skin penetration. The successful applicant will gain multidisciplinary expertise across the areas of chemistry, physics and biology utilizing a broad range of characterization techniques