ZnO nanoparticles with surface modified by Cephalotin: Development and Characterization

• Grant number: 23/03924-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: October 01, 2024
• End date: July 11, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering - Nonmetallic Materials
• Principal Investigator: Leila Aparecida Chiavacci Favorin
• Grantee: Mariana Picchi Salto
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas (FCFAR). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araraquara. Araraquara , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Infections by resistant microorganisms, mainly due to the inappropriate use of antimicrobials, are a major health problem, so that the world health organization (WHO) estimates that such infections could cause 10 million deaths per year worldwide by 2050 (GETAHUN et al., 2020). Infection mechanisms occur by direct contact or by fomites, through the transmission of microorganisms by body fluids, and also through contact with inanimate surfaces.The search for materials that prevent the proliferation of microorganisms and that can be easily incorporated into different objects, such as clothing fabrics, metallic surfaces, among others, has increased in recent years. Recent studies have shown that zinc oxide nanoparticles have antimicrobial action, especially for gram-positive bacteria, and that particle size influences antimicrobial activity: the smaller, the better response (LALLO DA SILVA et al., 2019).In this work, we intend to modify the surface of zinc oxide nanoparticles with the antibiotic cephalothin, with the main objective of optimizing the antimicrobial activity of the nanoparticles and the versatility of their use, expanding their spectrum of action. Thus, this work foresees the development of a new material capable of acting broadly in the prevention of new infections.