December 23, 2024

Bacteria-Killing Marvel: Scientists Develop Polymers That Defeat Antibiotic-Resistant Superbugs

Working at the interface of natural chemistry and polymer science, the Michaudel Laboratory was able to synthesize the brand-new polymer by carefully creating a positively charged molecule that can be stitched many times to form a big particle made of the very same duplicating charged concept utilizing a thoroughly selected catalyst called AquaMet. According to Michaudel, that catalyst proves key, provided that it has to endure a high concentration of charges and also be water-soluble– a function he describes as uncommon for this type of process.After attaining success, the Michaudel Lab put its polymers to the test against two primary types of antibiotic-resistant bacteria– E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)– in partnership with Dr. Jessica Schiffmans group at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.”We are in the procedure of manufacturing a range of analogs with that exciting objective in mind,” he said.Reference: “Ring-opening metathesis polymerization of N-methylpyridinium-fused norbornenes to gain access to anti-bacterial main-chain cationic polymers” by Sarah N. Hancock, Nattawut Yuntawattana, Emily Diep, Arunava Maity, An Tran, Jessica D. Schiffman and Quentin Michaudel, 11 December 2023, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.DOI: 10.1073/ pnas.2311396120 The teams paper, which features Michaudel Lab member and Texas A&M chemistry Ph.D. graduate Dr. Sarah Hancock 23 as very first author, can be viewed online along with associated figures and captions. Other crucial factors from the Michaudel Lab are chemistry graduate student An Tran 23, postdoctoral scholar Dr. Arunava Maity and previous postdoctoral scholar Dr. Nattawut Yuntawattana, who is now an assistant professor of materials science at Kasetsart University in Thailand.This research study was funded primarily by Michaudels National Institutes of Health Maximizing Investigators Research Award (MIRA) through the National Institute of General Medical Sciences.A native of La Rochelle, France, Michaudel joined the Texas A&M Chemistry professors in 2018 and holds a joint visit in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering.

According to Michaudel, that driver proves crucial, offered that it has to tolerate a high concentration of charges and also be water-soluble– a function he describes as unusual for this type of process.After attaining success, the Michaudel Lab put its polymers to the test against 2 main types of antibiotic-resistant bacteria– E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)– in partnership with Dr. Jessica Schiffmans group at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.”We are in the procedure of synthesizing a range of analogs with that interesting objective in mind,” he said.Reference: “Ring-opening metathesis polymerization of N-methylpyridinium-fused norbornenes to gain access to anti-bacterial main-chain cationic polymers” by Sarah N. Hancock, Nattawut Yuntawattana, Emily Diep, Arunava Maity, An Tran, Jessica D. Schiffman and Quentin Michaudel, 11 December 2023, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.DOI: 10.1073/ pnas.2311396120 The teams paper, which includes Michaudel Lab member and Texas A&M chemistry Ph.D. graduate Dr. Sarah Hancock 23 as first author, can be viewed online along with related figures and captions. Other essential contributors from the Michaudel Lab are chemistry graduate trainee An Tran 23, postdoctoral scholar Dr. Arunava Maity and former postdoctoral scholar Dr. Nattawut Yuntawattana, who is now an assistant professor of products science at Kasetsart University in Thailand.This research was moneyed primarily by Michaudels National Institutes of Health Maximizing Investigators Research Award (MIRA) through the National Institute of General Medical Sciences.A native of La Rochelle, France, Michaudel joined the Texas A&M Chemistry faculty in 2018 and holds a joint consultation in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering.