Multifunctional photoactive nanocarriers for degradation of bacterial biofilms

生物膜是许多细菌生长和生存的一种常见形式。它们是结构复杂的动态系统，难以治疗。抗菌光动力疗法（aPDT）在这方面具有很大的希望，并在抗生素可能不再是长期选择的时代提供了一种可行的替代方案。虽然大多数关于aPDT对生物膜影响的评估都是用分子光敏剂进行的，但对具有高迁移率和高扩散能力的纳米载体系统在生物膜中的潜力的研究较少。由于单线态氧或其他活性氧的通用作用机制，靶向aPDT提供了裂解特定生物膜成分的选择。我们将利用两亲性聚合物的多功能性合成和功能修饰来获得一个纳米递送系统库，其中电荷，大小，光敏剂类型和靶向部分各不相同，使我们有机会找到用于生物膜治疗的aPDT最有效的途径。本项目将研究光活性纳米载体的光物理性质和光生物效应。我们的研究方法涵盖了我们认为成功开发抗菌疗法至关重要的所有主要方面，并融合了合成化学、纳米技术、光化学和微生物学的能力。

Biofilms are a common form of growth and survival for many bacteria. They are structurally complex and dynamic systems that are difficult to treat. Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) holds great promise in this regard and offers a viable alternative in an era where antibiotics may no longer be long-term options. While most evaluations of aPDT effects on biofilms have been conducted with molecular photosensitizers, the potential of nanocarrier systems with high mobility and diffusion into biofilms has been less studied. Due to the versatile and generic mechanisms of action of singlet oxygen or other reactive oxygen species, targeted aPDT offers the option to lyse specific biofilm components. We will take advantage of the versatility of synthesis and functional modifications of amphiphilic polymers to obtain a library of nanodelivery systems where charge, size, type of photosensitizer, and targeting moiety vary, giving us the opportunity to find the most efficient pathway for aPDT for biofilm treatments. Within this project, the photophysical properties and photobiological effects of photoactive nanocarriers will be investigated. The research approach covers all the main aspects we consider critical for the successful development of antibacterial therapeutics merging competencies in synthetic chemistry, nanotechnology, photochemistry, and microbiology.