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

该奖项由材料研究部的生物材料项目授予北卡罗来纳大学教堂山分校，旨在开展释放一氧化氮(NO)的二氧化硅纳米材料支架的研究，这种支架通过局部释放NO来减少牙齿生物膜的形成。进行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。二氧化硅纳米材料具有可调的性质，如无储存、大小和表面电荷，并将使杀菌活性和细胞毒性的研究成为可能。在确定了杀死浮游细菌的最佳颗粒特性后，该项目将研究如何根除已建立的生物膜。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。这个项目预计将通过基础研究、变革性研究和发现研究为研究生和本科生提供将材料科学与微生物学相结合的经验。此外，该项目将利用了解纳米颗粒-细菌动力学的明显需要，通过研究活动让未被充分代表的人群参与科学和工程。细菌菌斑生物膜引起的牙齿腐烂是全球普遍存在的一个代价高昂的健康问题。尽管通过对公共供水进行氟化物处理和常规牙齿清洁取得了实质性进展，但龋齿仍然是一个需要加强治疗的重大问题。2006年，仅在美国，牙科保健费用就占到了医疗保健总支出的7.4%。在这项提议中，研究人员试图开发新的杀菌纳米材料来对抗菌斑产生细菌。这项工作旨在阐明纳米材料的性质(例如，尺寸、电荷和一氧化氮释放动力学)如何影响其对菌斑产生菌的杀菌活性。因此，这项研究对于实现具有最大治疗效果的药物释放纳米粒至关重要。拟议的工作也将对学生产生重大影响。除了为学生提供能够在材料科学、化学和微生物学领域进行培训的研究项目外，该研究还将用于通过专门的研究经验吸引科学和工程领域中代表性不足的人群的注意力。

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.