Stimuli responsive nanoparticles for antibiotic delivery in Gram negative bacteria at University of Birmingham on FindAPhD.com

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Prof Z Pikramenou, Dr J Blair No more applications being accepted Competition Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

Birmingham United Kingdom Inorganic Chemistry Organic Chemistry Biological Sciences Synthetic Chemistry

About the Project

Gram-negative bacterial species, including E. coli, are major causes of infectious diseases worldwide and account for all organisms in the “critical” category of the WHO list of antibiotic-resistant "priority pathogens". The double cell membrane of Gram-negative bacteria makes it inaccessible to many key antibiotics. Nanoparticles provide ideal vehicles for drug delivery and can also be engineering with functional groups to enhance bacterial cell uptake.

In this project we will develop nanoparticles to target specific proteins in the bacterial cell membrane to increase the uptake of antibiotics inside the cell. We will trigger drug release based on photo-activated nanoparticles to control efficient and localised drug delivery.

The project involves synthesis of novel particles using organic and inorganic synthetic methodologies, a set of analytical techniques for particle characterisation, photochemical analysis, and microbiology techniques.

The PhD applicant is expected to have strong interest in interdisciplinary research including molecular and nanomolecular synthesis, photophysical studies as well as excellent communication skills.

Funding Notes

Applications are sought from highly motivated students graduating with at least upper class (2:1) degree in chemistry or closely related discipline. Funding is awarded on a competitive basis, depending on the strength of the applicant. Projects are open to both home and International students. Applicants should contact Professor Pikramenou [Email Address Removed] and apply following the links below.
This studentship is competition funded by the BBSRC MIBTP scheme:
https://warwick.ac.uk/mibtp/
https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/activity/mibtp/index.aspx

References

1. D.M. Hoang, P. T. Pham, T. Q. Bach A. T. L. Ngo, Q.T. Nguyen, T.T.K Phan, G.H. Nguyen, P.T. T Le, V. T. Hoang, N.R. Forsyth, M. Heke, L. T. Nguyen, Signal Transduct Target Ther 2022, 7, 271. And Nat. Rev. Cancer 2012, 12,133–143.
2. A.N. Dosumu, S. Claire, S.A.M. Osborne, L. Watson, Z. Pikramenou Z., N.J. Hodges JACS Au 2021, 1, 174-186.
3. S. King, S., R. Teixeira, R., A.N. Dosumu, A., H. Dehghani, H., A. Ward, M.J. Hannon, A., N.J. Hodges, S. Botchway, R. Bicknell, Z. Pikramenou J. Amer. Chem. Soc. 2018, 140, 10242−10249.

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