Targeting of Bacteria Using Amylase-Degradable, Copper-Loaded Starch Nanoparticles.

ABSTRACT: Background/Objectives: The treatment of bacterial infections is complicated by emerging antibiotic resistance. This paper identifies a novel approach with a nanoparticle that targets bacterial surface charge and is responsive to the nutrient environment (i.e., glucose) and presence of metabolically active bystander species (i.e., amylase secretion) within microbial communities. Methods: Thus, metabolically responsive composite nanoparticles (440 ± 58 nm) were fabricated via electrohydrodynamic jetting of a cationic starch polymer incorporating 5-7 nm copper nanoparticles (0.3 wt%). Starch was selected as the base polymer, as it is a common carbon source for amylase-producing bacterial communities, in particular under glucose-limited growth conditions. Results: The resu

SUBMITTER: Jones NA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12838110 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature