Nanoantibiotic Technology Developed to Eliminate Bacteria While Keeping Body Cells Untouched

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over 2.8 million people in the United States are inflicted with antibiotic-resistant infections every year. Because of the bizarre condition, 35,000 individuals out of the estimated population die.

Nanoantibiotics: Solution Against Antibiotic-Resistant Infection?

Antibiotic-resistant infection is one of the most critical issues worldwide public health faces today. To solve the decade-long issue, physiology and molecular biophysics expert Hongjun Liang conducted a study to find a potential solution. Along with Liang, the research was supported by their colleagues from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center.

The main interest of this study was to develop nanoparticles that have the ability to eliminate infectious pathogens while preventing any influence on healthy cells. Previous examinations have been processed to understand how cells are influenced by hydrophobicity and hydrophilicity. These studies have proven that the more hydrophobic a certain substance is, the more detrimental effect it will show. But because of limited data, Liang said that there are no quantitative standards were established for the acceptable rate of hydrophobicity.

Liang explained in a ScienceDaily report that higher hydrophobicity could eliminate bacteria much more effectively. However, its corresponding effect normally includes healthy cells in operation, allowing something unnecessary.

In the study, the authors were able to develop a new approach to hydrophilic nanoparticles in the form of nanoantibiotics, which was constructed in Liang's exclusive laboratory. The physical design of this nanotechnology heavily resembles tiny hairy spheres. Each of the pieces is equipped with hydrophilic polymer brushes embedded with silica nanoparticles of various sizes.

Nanoantibiotics That Could Kill Bacterias Without Harming Natural Cells Developed

The main objective of the synthetic nanoparticles is to kill specific bacteria through disruptions of membrane, a method similar to the job of antimicrobial peptides. However, the process targets the bacterial membranes alone and leaves the mammalian cells at ease.

Antimicrobial peptides are combinations of amphipathic molecules that naturally manifest in the human system and serve as protection for many multicellular organisms. But on the other side of their efficacy, antimicrobial peptides used for antibiotic purposes are limited due to their unique stability and rate of toxicity.

Liang explained that because they selected hydrophilic polymers as alternatives, the problem with the cytotoxicity of hydrophobic moieties is out of the equation. Both the silica nanoparticles and the polymer structure does not kill bacteria, but with the right grafting on the nanostructure, they will be able to do so. The expert said their discovery is the most essential aspect for developing nanoantibiotic study.

The antibiotic activity was also found to have a degree relative to the size of the hairy spheres. Liang said that the relation of the nanoantibiotics' physical structure to its efficacy is also beneficial to the overall results of the research. The group of spheres measuring at least 50 nanometers or less was observed to be more active than those that exceeded 50 nanometers. The authors noted that those scaled to 10 nanometers appear to be more active than the rest.

Liang said that all of the discoveries mentioned in their research could serve as a blueprint to create new antibiotics that will be cordial with respect to the natural protectors of the human system, as they originate from eco-friendly and non-toxic compositions via nanoengineering. The study was published in the journal Nature Communications, titled "Hydrophilic nanoparticles that kill bacteria while sparing mammalian cells reveal the antibiotic role of nanostructures."

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