Antimicrobial and anti-Leishmanial bismuth compounds and materials

该项目旨在开发铋和相关金属的生物无机和药物化学，以解决两个全球健康问题：寄生虫感染(主要是利什曼病)和抗菌素耐药性。通过针对严重的微生物感染，该项目将研究铋和相关金属的化学、物理、结构和生物特性。该项目将通过在聚合物基质中加入铋及其化合物来形成生物防护材料和表面。它将通过仔细研究细胞机制，特别是现代金属组学技术，建立络合物的化学生物学和毒理学。开发的新化合物可能会解决抗生素耐药性这一紧迫而重大的健康问题，并有助于解决治疗不当的寄生虫感染问题。

The project aims to develop the bioinorganic and medicinal chemistry of bismuth and related metals to address two global health issues: parasitic infections (principally Leishmaniasis) and antibacterial resistance. Through targeting serious microbial infections, the project will research the chemical, physical, structural and biological properties of bismuth and related metals. The project will form bio-protective materials and surfaces through incorporating bismuth and its compounds into polymer matrices. It will establish the complexes’ chemical biology and toxicology through scrutinising cellular mechanisms, particularly modern metallomic techniques. New compounds developed may address the urgent and significant health issue of antibiotic resistance and help address poorly treated parasitic infections.