Nanoparticles associated with antibiotics for the treatment of bacteremia caused by resistant microorganisms

• Grant number: 18/23898-6
• Support type: Regular Research Grants
• Duration: April 01, 2019 - January 31, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Biomedical Engineering - Bioengineering
• Principal researcher: Maiara Lima Castilho
• Grantee: Maiara Lima Castilho
• Home Institution: Instituto de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento (IP&D). Universidade do Vale do Paraíba (UNIVAP). São José dos Campos , SP, Brazil
• Assoc. researchers: Leandro José Raniero ; Luciane Dias de Oliveira

Abstract

Bloodstream infections (BSIs) are one of the major healthcare-related infections, which is a major public health challenge worldwide because of the high morbidity, mortality, and associated costs. One of the most common clinical conditions is bacteremia defined as the presence of viable bacteria in the bloodstream, caused by resistant microorganisms such as Staphylococcus aureus, Acinetobacter baumannii and Klebsiella pneumoniae. The conventional treatment for the eradication of viable bacteria in the bloodstream is made with antibiotics, which is dependent on the species and its sensitivity profile, however the treatment efficiency is limited due to the resistance acquired by the microorganisms. Morbidity and mortality rates related to BSIs by resistant phenotype microorganisms have become a worldwide health problem, and the need for the development of new alternative methods for the treatment of these bacteremias is evident. Nanotechnology adds new alternative forms for the treatment of diverse diseases, with greater efficiency, speed and cost-benefit. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) show potential biomedical applications, due to their antibacterial properties associated with the small propensity to induce microbial resistance, besides having low toxicity to human cells. The present project proposes the development of AgNPs associated with antibiotics as an alternative method for the treatment of viable bacteria in the bloodstream. Thus, AgNPs with the action of the antibiotic will be a system with double power of bacterial inhibition, aiming at decreasing the rate of mortality and morbidity. (AU)