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

1032579在医院获得性(即医院内)感染和植入物相关感染中增强抗生素耐药性的主要决定因素是细菌在胞外聚合物(EPS)中的嵌入。这项提议旨在通过连接到纳米粒子上的抗生素、群体感应猝灭剂和群体感应干扰物来制造能够杀灭生物膜中细菌的新型纳米粒子。穿透、分析和摧毁嵌入在保护性EPS中的高度耐药细菌的多功能纳米颗粒策略，在概念上很简单，但涉及到使用点击化学进行有效合成的复杂化学和使用RAFT方法对每个纳米颗粒进行大规模官能化。该提议的优点是纳米化学与生物膜微生物学研究的多学科联系，以及它对一系列生物膜问题的适用性。申请人提出了一项分4个阶段的推广计划，其中包括在小学开展推广活动、为中学制作教学录像、在两个研究生水平的课程中进行多次讲座以及招募少数群体加入研究小组。

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.