Antibiotics Bacterial infections of antibiotics are one of the biggest challenges in modern medicine, especially when they form biofilms, which are sticky layers of bacteria that form protective shields against antibiotics, making them difficult to eliminate. Dr. Piotr Golec and his team from Warsawhave University have proposed a new approach to address bacterial biofilms by using phages, viruses that specifically attack and destroy bacteria, and arm the bacteria with silver nanoparticles, which are tiny silver particles, these large white particles with their ability to kill bacteria and prevent infection. Their findings appear in the peer-reviewed Scientific Report.
Viruses called phages, or simple phages, targets and infected bacteria, while silver nanoparticles are widely recognized for their bactericidal properties. The team brought the two elements together to develop powerful antibiotic treatments. “T7 phages armed with silver nanoparticles showed greater success in breaking down bacterial biofilms than phages or nanoparticles used alone,” explained Dr. Golec, the study’s lead investigator. The team modified the T7 phage to show a small peptide, a short amino acid sequence that enables the phage to bind to the silver nanoparticles, resulting in a bioactive material that effectively destroys the biofilm structure.
Experiments show that this combination not only reduces most of the biofilms, but also reduces bacterial survival more effectively than using either component alone. Dr. Golec used silver nanoparticle binding peptide to design a phage, calling it “Nano content”, showing strong ability to bind to silver nanoparticles. This ensures that the nanoparticles remain where needed (at the site of infection) rather than randomly spread. Dr. GOLEC described nanotype drivers like taxi drivers, such as silver nanoparticles belonging to specific nan nin nis nis nis nis nis nis nis nis nis nis nis nis nis nis nis nis nis nis nis nis nis nis nis nis nis nis nis nis nis nis nis nis nis nis nis nis nis nis nis nis nis nis nis nis nis nis nis nis nis nis nis nis nis nis nis nis nis nis nis nis nis
Safety is the focus of this study, especially the effect of silver nanoparticles on engineered T7 phages that carry human cells. The team found that while large doses of silver nanoparticles alone may be harmful to human cells, the carefully controlled levels used in this approach are safe and do not cause damage in laboratory testing, which was performed in a scientific environment to evaluate safety and effectiveness. Dr. Golec added: “Our findings suggest that this innovative approach is not only effective, but also safe for potential medical treatments.”
New solutions like this offer hope for the fight against bacteria, which no longer responds to antibiotics. By combining the natural ability of phages to target bacteria with the broad antibacterial effects of silver nanoparticles, Dr. Golec and colleagues have proposed a promising strategy to combat stubborn biofilm-related infections. Further research will aim to fine-tune the methods used in real-world traditional Chinese medicine and examine their effectiveness against different types of bacteria.
Journal Reference
Mateusz szymczak, Jarosław A. Pankowski, Agnieszka Kwiatek, Bartłomiej Grygorcewicz, Joanna Karczewska-Golec, Kamila Sadowska, Piotr Golec. “An effective antibiotic strategy based on phages with silver nanoparticles.” Scientific Report, 2024. doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-59866-y
About the Author
Dr. Piotr Golec He is the head of a research group at the University of Warsaw, specializing in the biology of bacteria and viruses. For years, he has been studying the potential of phages in combating antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections. His research focuses on genetic engineering of bacteriophages to enhance their antibacterial properties, aiming to develop innovative therapies. He is a passionate scientist and innovator who is committed to exploring new areas of microbiology to address global health challenges.
