Clicking Carbohydrates into Silica Nanoparticles - A Novel Approach to Bacteria Targeting

• Grant number: 24/00225-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• Start date: June 05, 2024
• End date: June 04, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Organic Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Mateus Borba Cardoso
• Grantee: Clara Lana Bispo Fidelis
• Supervisor: Xavier Cattoen
• Host Institution: Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Energia e Materiais (CNPEM). Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Inovação (Brasil). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Institut NÉEL, France
• Associated to the scholarship: 21/11858-2 - Nanoparticles-Bacteria Interaction: An Investigation of Superficial Interaction and Internalization Through Synchrotron Techniques., BP.DR

Abstract

The escalating threat posed by emerging epidemics and the pervasive consequences of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) underscore the urgent need for innovative solutions. Recognized by the scientific community, nanobiotechnology emerges as a promising avenue in the battle against AMR. This PhD Thesis focuses on unraveling the intricate interplay between nanoparticles and Gram-negative bacteria, specifically Escherichia coli. In the upcoming second chapter - proposed by this potential internship (BEPE) - the objective is to develop a novel platform comprising carbohydrate organosilica nanoparticles synthesized through click chemistry. The pivotal role played by Dr. Xavier Cattoën's group at Institut Néel in Grenoble, France, is instrumental for achieving the diverse functionalities desired in organosilica nanoparticles, given that Dr. Cattoën is a renowned expert in silica surface modification through click chemistry. Methodologically, two distinct approaches-copper-catalyzed alkyne-azide cycloaddition reaction (CuAAC) and thiol-ene immobilization-are proposed to graft carbohydrates onto silica surfaces. Additionally, a proposal for beamtime is underway, aiming to explore the dynamic interaction between nanoparticles and E. coli at the ID02 beamline within the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) in Grenoble. This interdisciplinary approach holds the promise of not only advancing our comprehension of such interactions but also contributing to the broader global efforts in combating AMR.