Projects / Programmes
Bactericidal nanoblades: a proof-of-concept approach for bimodal chemo-mechanical eradication of persistent biofilms
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 3.08.00 |
Medical sciences |
Public health (occupational safety) |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 3.03 |
Medical and Health Sciences |
Health sciences |
biofilm, nanoblade, bactericidal action, wide-spectrum antibacterial
Data for the last 5 years (citations for the last 10 years) on
December 10, 2023;
A3 for period
2017-2021
Data for ARIS tenders (
04.04.2019 – Programme tender,
archive
)
| Database |
Linked records |
Citations |
Pure citations |
Average pure citations |
| WoS |
605 |
15,433 |
13,218 |
21.85 |
| Scopus |
604 |
17,027 |
14,785 |
24.48 |
Researchers (18)
Organisations (2)
Abstract
Biofilms are complex microbial ecosystems formed by bacteria immersed in a self-produced matrix of extracellular polymeric substances that are adherent to a surface. Biofilms provide several benefits to the bacteria, such as hydration, resource acquisition, digestive capacity and protection from mechanical damage and antimicrobials. Bacteria are able to form biofilms on a wide variety of different materials, including glass, aluminium, stainless steel, various organic polymers, fluorinated materials, such as Teflon™, and on living tissues. Formation of bacterial biofilms has a negative impact in a number of areas including healthcare, food processing industry, public water supply and ventilation and air handling systems among others. The presence of biofilms puts human health at risk, as approximately 80% of chronic and recurrent microbial infections have been associated with biofilms. Since biofilms are complex communities, their unique characteristics increase the possibility of chemical and physical resistances towards current methods of biofilm eradication. Motivated by current public health challenges with persistent biofilms, we are proposing this innovative project, which will verify new concept for the eradication of persistent bacterial biofilms by combining mechanical disruption with bactericidal action. The new concept is based on the conversion of magnetic energy into the rotational movement of non-spherical magnetic particles (i.e., bactericidal nanoblades) such as magnetic nanoplatelets, nanorods, nanochains, and microrods as they are exposed to rotating magnetic field. The remotely triggered mechanical torque from the anisotropic particles that are attached to the biofilms will be investigated to see whether they can mechanically disrupt and disperse persistent biofilms. Bactericidal component will be provided by release of Ag ions. We hypothesize that the remotely transmitted force will be sufficient to release Ag ions and generate broad-spectrum antimicrobial environment for biomaterials that are in contact with remotely guided nanoblades. In this proposal, we will verify this strategy in different bacterial biofilms including bacteria highly relevant for the healthcare system and for the food industry. The project contains numerous innovative and ambitious methodological approaches, which require interdisciplinary expertise. Therefore, we established international consortium which combines five groups: project leader from University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Pharmacy (FFA-Chem), two groups from Jožef Stefan Institute (SLO-Nano and SLO-Bio) and two groups from Switzerland (CH-Nano and CH Bio). The groups of CH leader Dr Irena Milosevic (CH-Nano) and Dr Slavko Kralj (SLO-Nano) will join the efforts on nanoparticles and model hydrogels syntheses. Nanoparticles surface modification will be led by SLO project leader Dr Stane Pajk (FFA-Chem). These functionalized nanoparticles will be further investigated by the groups of Dr Jerica Sabotič (SLO-Bio) and Dr Mustapha Mekki (CH-Bio) using microbiological and cell biological approaches. The SLO-Bio and CH-Bio groups will evaluate chemo-mechanical effect of bactericidal nanoblades on biofilms relevant for food industry (SLO-Bio) and healthcare system (CH-Bio). The highly interdisciplinary project with international consortium will be coordinated by Prof. Stane Pajk (SLO part) and Prof. Irena Milosevic (CH part). All partners will ensure efficient dissemination of the project’s results, as well as identification and protection of intellectual property and risk mitigation. The confirmation of our chemo-mechanical approach can have an enormous impact on public health since the new concept might shift paradigm of fighting with biofilms in the food industry and healthcare system.
