Nanoparticles (NPs) have been considered as antimicrobials for a long time; the success of clinical studies of these NPs primarily relies on the interaction ability with the bacteria. Therefore material, shape, size, charge, and surface chemistry are important. These features give them a selective antibacterial activity that is needed for next-generation antibiotics. In this study, we used chiral ceria NPs for antibacterial activity on <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> and <i>Escherichia coli</i> for selective inhibition. Even though most of the studies on antimicrobial NPs suggest reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation and ion release as the primary source of antibacterial activity, the mechanism of NP’s antibacterial action is remarkably more complex than generating ROS or the release of ions. This complexity originated from the biomimetic function of these NPs that can be designed to make complex with bacterial membrane proteins using unified structural descriptors. Yet, further investigation into the antimicrobial mechanisms of these biomimetic NPs is essential for future clinical translation.

Chiral cerium oxide nanoparticles for antibacterial activity

Fall 2022 abstracts, posters, and presentations will launch in mid-September.

ACS Fall 2022

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.