Session: Biomembrane Synthesis, Structure, Mechanics, and Dynamics:

As a result of the growing world-wide antibiotic resistance crisis, many currently existing antibiotics have been shown to be ineffective due to bacteria developing mechanisms of resistance. There are a limited variety of potent antibiotics that are successful at suppressing microbial growth, such as polymyxin B, however are deemed as a last resort due to being highly toxic to healthy cells. Adverse side effects associated with polymyxin B treatment include nephrotoxicity, neurotoxicity, and hypersensitivity. Previous literature has focused on the development of an effective drug delivery system that can inhibit bacterial growth while minimizing negative side effects. In particular, nanoparticles have been of interest as they can be conjugated to a drug of interest, allowing for effective drug transport to the target. Despite their potential, an antibiotic delivery system has yet to be established, presumably due to the nanoparticles lacking specificity. Here, we present a novel antimicrobial drug delivery method that uses modified red blood cells that are encapsulated around polymyxin B. The nanoparticles are made specific to E.coli through the addition of corresponding antibodies on the exterior. We investigate whether this drug delivery system is effective at inhibiting E.coli growth while minimizing the negative side effects seen with conventional polymyxin B treatment. This RBC based platform is potentially advantageous to nanoparticle based approaches because of their biocompatibility and bioavailability, resulting in a longer retention time in the human body.

Sebastian Himbert

Appearances