In a significant breakthrough against the rising threat of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, a collaborative effort led by Texas A&M University has successfully developed a new class of polymers capable of killing bacteria by disrupting their membranes. The research, led by Dr. Quentin Michaudel, an assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry, offers a potential solution to combat antibiotic resistance, a growing public health concern responsible for over 2.8 million infections annually.
The research, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, details the synthesis of polymers that operate through a mechanism to which bacteria do not easily develop resistance. By carefully designing a positively charged molecule stitched together to form a large polymer, the team utilized a specially selected water-soluble catalyst called AquaMet, a crucial element in the process.
The Michaudel Laboratory collaborated with the University of Massachusetts Amherst to test the polymers against antibiotic-resistant bacteria strains such as E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Simultaneously, the researchers assessed the polymers' toxicity against human red blood cells, aiming to strike a balance between inhibiting bacterial growth and maintaining selectivity for bacterial cells over human cells.
Dr. Michaudel emphasized the multidisciplinary effort and collaboration involved in the project, acknowledging the support from various groups and labs. The team's success hinged on expertise from the University of Virginia's Letteri Lab and contributions from researchers such as Nathan Williams and Dr. Jean-Philippe Pellois at Texas A&M.
The researchers plan to refine the polymers' activity, focusing on enhancing their selectivity for bacterial cells over human cells before advancing to in vivo assays. With several analogs in synthesis, the team aims to optimize the polymers' efficacy against a range of bacteria, marking a significant stride toward combating antibiotic resistance.
The paper's first author, Dr. Sarah Hancock, a Ph.D. graduate from the Michaudel Lab, along with key contributors An Tran, Dr. Arunava Maity, and Dr. Nattawut Yuntawattana, underscores the collaborative effort's success and the potential impact of their innovative approach in addressing a critical global health challenge.
More: https://phys.org/news/2023-12-team-polymers-bacteria.html
