School of Pharmacy, Applied Sciences and Public Health

Novel Nanoparticle-Enhanced Therapy for Chronic Bacterial Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance

girl on a mountain looking at the sun rise

This interdisciplinary project will develop dual-action nanoparticles that both deliver antimicrobial agents and disrupt biofilms to target chronic bacterial infections. Using microbiological and immunological approaches and advanced human cell models, we will assess how these nanoparticles can disrupt bacterial defences, combat biofilms, and enhance the immune response.

Award

MRes | MPhil | PhD | MSc by Research

Start Date

Usually February and October - at individual School's discretion

Research Opportunities

Summary

Multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria, such as Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, present a critical challenge in treating chronic infections. These pathogens cause over 700,000 deaths globally each year. If no effective treatments are developed soon, this number could rise to 10 million by 2050. MDR bacteria not only evade antibiotics but also form biofilms, structured bacterial communities that are about 1,000 times more resistant to antibiotics. This complicates patient treatment, contributes to persistent infections and poses a substantial healthcare burden to NHS.

To address these critical challenges, this project aims to develop a novel nanomedicine-based approach, utilising nanoparticles that simultaneously deliver antimicrobial agents and biofilm-disrupting compounds. Nanoparticles offer a unique advantage in drug delivery by allowing precise targeting and controlled release, which reduces toxicity and improves therapeutic outcomes. Our dual-action nanoparticles will be engineered to (i) penetrate biofilms and (ii) inhibit bacterial virulence factors that bacteria use to establish infection and evade our immune system. By tackling both bacterial biofilms and virulence simultaneously, this approach offers a more effective treatment strategy for chronic infections caused by MDR pathogens.

This interdisciplinary approach combines microbiology, molecular biology, bioinformatics, pharmaceutical chemistry, and immunology to create an innovative solution to tackle bacterial infections. The project will involve careful engineering of nanoparticles optimised for size, stability, and drug release properties using advanced chemical formulation techniques. The nanoparticles engineered in this project will be designed to carry novel antimicrobials alongside compounds that disrupt quorum sensing, a key bacterial communication system responsible for biofilm formation and virulence.

The PhD researcher will evaluate the cytotoxicity of these nanoparticle formulations on mammalian cells to ensure their safety. The antimicrobial efficacy of the nanoparticles will be tested against MDR bacteria, S. aureus and P. aeruginosa. The effectiveness of the nanoparticles in inhibiting biofilm formation and their ability to interfere with quorum sensing will be evaluated to understand how the nanoparticles disrupt bacterial survival mechanisms. Further testing will involve inducing chronic infections in advanced human cell models to simulate a realistic infection environment. This approach provides a robust platform to assess the therapeutic potential of nanoparticle-based treatment in human-like systems and their clinical applicability.

This project offers an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic student to gain hands-on experience in microbiology, nanotechnology, and immunology. With full training provided, you will contribute to innovative therapies that could shape the future of healthcare.