Antimicrobial nanostructures and nanocomposites for nanomedicine

• Grant number: 24/13803-9
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: March 01, 2026
• End date: February 28, 2029
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering - Nonmetallic Materials
• Principal Investigator: Leila Aparecida Chiavacci Favorin
• Grantee: Leila Aparecida Chiavacci Favorin
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas (FCFAR). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araraquara. Araraquara , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Eloísa Berbel Manaia ; Laurent Lemaire

Abstract

The search for new antimicrobial agents has increased over the years, aiming to combat bacterial resistance, especially in the context in which it is estimated by the World Health Organization that infections caused by resistant bacteria could cause approximately 10 million deaths per year worldwide by 2050 (Getahun et al., 2020). Inorganic nanoparticles (INP) are a potential antimicrobial agent, as they present a good response especially to gram-positive bacteria (Lallo da Silva et al., 2019). To improve the mechanism of action of INPs it is possible to modify their surface in order to enable their incorporation into polymeric, lipid or self-assembled vectors, in order to improve their biocompatibility and stability in biological environments. In addition, the controlled surface of these systems can enable greater success in their interaction with bacterial cell walls. In this sense, this project aims to develop theranostic nanovectors based on self-assembled lipid, polymeric molecules and organic-inorganic hybrid nanocomposites, containing INP based on Au, Cu, In, Fe, Si or Zn. For this, the 3D printing technique will be used to build body surface devices for use in the treatment of bacterial, fungal and viral infections. Both antimicrobial effects and toxic effects will be evaluated, therefore, it is an innovative and promising approach for the control of multidrug-resistant bacterial infections. This proposal has the collaboration of foreign institutions such as the Faculté de Medicine de Angers in France, through the participation of associate researcher Laurent Lemaire, and the Faculté de Pharmacie at Université Paris-Saclay through the participation of associate researcher Eloisa Berbel Manaia. International partnerships should strengthen the development of this proposal and allow the exchange of students involved in this project. (AU)