Multi-drug-resistant (MDR) bacteria are a rapidly emerging threat to human health, causing thousands of deaths each year in the US alone. The emergence of new antibiotic-resistant bacteria is rapidly accelerating, with strains now resistant to all known antibiotics beginning to be observed. In addition to their immunity to antibiotics, pathogenic bacteria are commonly found in biofilms, making the resulting infections particularly difficult to address. Biofilm formation causes persistent diseases and implant-associated infections, for example, the methicillin-resistant <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>(MRSA) biofilms commonly found in wound infections. In our research we have used self-assembly of polymers and biopolymers to create new constructs that are highly effective against both dispersed and biofilms. These antimicrobials feature low toxicity against mammalian cells (including red blood cells), making them promising as therapeutics for both wound and internal infections.

Penetration and eradication of multidrug-resistant bacterial biofilms using polymer and biopolymer-based  nanomaterials

2019 Fall National Meeting

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