New nanoparticles fight infections

SINGAPORE, July 1 (UPI) -- Singaporean scientists say they have developed nanoparticles that might lead to new treatments for meningitis, fungal infections and drug-resistant bacteria.

Scientists at the Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology of Singapore said the stable bioengineered peptide nanoparticles effectively seek out and destroy bacteria and fungal cells that could cause fatal infections.

The scientists said their nanoparticles contain a membrane-penetrating component that enables them to pass through the blood brain barrier to an infected area that requires treatment, offering a superior alternative to existing brain infection treatments.

The brain membrane is impenetrable to most conventional antibiotics because the molecular structure of most drugs is too big to enter the membrane, the scientists said.

"Our treatment damages the structure of the pathogen and literally breaks it apart," said Yiyan Yang, who led the research sponsored by Singapore's Agency for Science, Technology and Research.

"Our oligopeptide has a unique chemical structure that forms nanoparticles with membrane-penetrating components on their surface," Yang added. "These nanoparticles can easily enter bacteria, yeast or fungal cells and destabilize them to cause cell death. For example, the nanoparticles cause damage to bacteria cell walls and prevent further bacterial growth."

The research appeared in the journal Nature Nanotechnology.