Using Nanoparticles to Combat Antibiotic Resistance Bacteria

Currently, 5 million people die each year to antibiotic resistance bacteria and the number is rising. To treat infections, health professionals continually modified current antibiotics instead of synthesizing new ones, leaving us defenseless against bacteria that evolve to resist these antibiotics. Fully engineered nanoparticles are a promising alternative due to bacterias inability to form resistance, but it has not been known how to use them in real world applications.

To address this, University of Michigan researchers across multiple disciplines - mechanical engineering, chemical engineering and Emergency medicine - formed together in 2018 to develop a unique approach, develop nanoparticles that can be synthesized to combat infections. They are using machine learning and AI to predict how a specific nanoparticle can interact with certain bacteria, helping to pave the way to create on demand antibiotics.

This research is conducted by:

Angela Violi, Arthur F Thurnau Professor
Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Macromolecular Science and Engineering, Applied Physics, and Biophysics

J. Scott VanEpps
Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, Biomedical Engineering, and Macromolecular Sciences and Engineering

Nicholas A. Kotov
Irving Langmuir Distinguished University Professor of Chemical Sciences and Engineering
Joseph B and Florence V Cejka Professor of Engineering
Professor of Chemical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, and Macromolecular Science and Engineering

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The University of Michigan College of Engineering is one of the world’s top engineering schools. Michigan Engineering is home to 12 highly-ranked departments, and its research budget is among the largest of any public university.

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[robertstovall]

They spend billions in fancy laboratories and I make nanoparticle silver in my kitchen in an hour and a half.😂😝😂😝😂😝

[masteraus]

Colloidal (nano) silver exists and can't be patented. The bigger problem is biofilms that work together to resist traditional antibiotics. Colloidal (nano) silver works but can't be patented. Therefore, they act like it doesn't exist or gaslight you and say it doesn't work. We don't have a healthcare system. We have a wealth care system😢

[kofoworolashakioye]

This is very enlightening. I understand research is still ongoing, however, what type of nanoparticles are being worked with, hybrid nanoparticles or metal oxide nanoparticles?

[pradyumnarahul]

My mother is fighting a lung infection that is antibiotic resistant. I want to be able to do something useful - how can I contribute to this research?
I'm very familiar with Machine Learning itself - but very limited understanding of the antibiotics and bacteria behaviour space.

[ellenlynch]

Incredible work you all are doing---thank you!

[williamsturley]

If Michigan doesn't do it who will? The enormous opportunity for such intense research collaboration only exists at very few institutions. As the students say, "It's great, to be, a Michigan Wolverine."

[ShaunBest]

When you have mucus have more whole salt. Not the stuff that has been cooked.

[amrutvani]

Still in the pipeline . Will take years for using them

[PetraKann]

Irresponsible research that can be weaponised.