As the threat of antibiotic resistance grows, a Swansea University academic has led the development of a novel technology capable of killing some of the most dangerous bacteria known to medicine—with over 99.9% effectiveness against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa).
The innovation centers on a heteromultivalent nanogel: a flexible particle made by crosslinking polymers and adding sugar residues (galactose and fucose) alongside antimicrobial peptides. The research is published in the journal Angewandte Chemie International Edition.
These sugars bind to specific proteins on the bacterial surface, guiding the nanogel precisely to its target. Once there, the peptides disrupt the bacterial membrane, leading to rapid and selective bacterial death—without harming surrounding healthy cells.
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