Antibiotic-resistant bacteria are a huge threat to public health, causing over 2.8 million infections every year. This growing issue poses a risk of common injuries and infections becoming lethal without new antibiotics.
However, there is hope on the horizon. A collaborative effort led by Texas A&M University has developed a new family of polymers that can eradicate bacteria without inducing antibiotic resistance by disrupting the microorganisms’ membranes.
The lead investigator, Dr. Quentin Michaudel, explained, “The new polymers we synthesized could help fight antibiotic resistance in the future by providing antibacterial molecules that operate in a way that bacteria do not seem to develop resistance against.”
Utilizing a carefully selected catalyst called AquaMet, the Michaudel Laboratory successfully synthesized the new polymer by designing a positively charged molecule that can be stitched numerous times. The researchers then tested these polymers against two major types of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), as well as for toxicity against human red blood cells.
Michaudel emphasized the importance of collaboration and multidisciplinary innovation, attributing the team’s success in determining the perfect catalyst for their molecule assembly to the generosity of dedicated researchers and experts across the Texas A&M campus and beyond.
Looking ahead, the team will focus on enhancing the activity of its polymers against bacteria.
