Developing and evaluating new nano-delivery vehicles for natural health antimicrobials

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The Public Health Agency of Canada estimates that roughly one in eight Canadians (or four million people) get sick each year due to domestically acquired foodborne diseases. This is estimated to cost the Canadian economy more than $2 billion per year. A common source of domestic infections is poorly handled and contaminated foods materials, and bacterial pathogens such as Salmonella enterica, Clostridium perfringens, Escherichia coli and Listeria monocytogenes account for approximately 90% of these illnesses. Therefore, there is a pressing need to develop nontoxic and effective disinfectant agents that can be safely used in kitchens across Canada. EastGate Pharmaceuticals recognizes the importance of reducing the exposure of these pathogens and aims to design natural consumer products that will limit their spread. Recently, they have developed a nano-delivery-based line of antimicrobial hand sanitizers and fruit and vegetable washing solutions derived from natural, non-toxic ingredients. The initial formulations of these antimicrobials have demonstrated limited activities against common foodborne bacterial pathogens. By collaborating with Dr. Khursigara at the University of Guelph, EastGate aims to improve the nano-delivery mechanism of their natural antimicrobials to enhance their antibacterial activities. Dr. Khursigara's team will use existing antimicrobial testing guidelines that have been established by Health Canada and Public Health Ontario to assess the efficacy of the novel antimicrobial formulations against these bacterial pathogens. EastGate Pharmaceuticals will use this information to develop better antimicrobial formulations and nano-delivery mechanisms that could potentially be adapted to safely deliver other types of drugs in the human body.