Engineering Next-Generation Technologies to Combat Antimicrobial Resistance
Nitric Oxide-Releasing Biomaterials
Nitric oxide (NO) is an endogenous signalling molecule involved in immune defence, vascular regulation and tissue repair. Its antimicrobial activity arises from multiple biochemical pathways, including nitrosative and oxidative stress, disruption of microbial metabolism and damage to cellular components. NO also plays an important role in biofilm regulation, making it a promising therapeutic agent for infections associated with antimicrobial resistance and biofilm persistence.
Our research focuses on engineering NO-releasing biomaterials with controlled and tunable release profiles to optimise antimicrobial performance while maintaining host tissue compatibility. We investigate the relationships between NO donor chemistry, material architecture, release kinetics and biological activity to establish design principles for effective therapeutic delivery.
We have developed a range of NO-releasing platforms, including electrospun nanofibres, hydrogels, nanoparticles, surface coatings and 3D printed constructs. These systems are being investigated for applications in wound management, respiratory infections and implant-associated infections.
A particular emphasis is placed on controlling NO release under physiologically relevant conditions and understanding how exposure profiles influence bacterial viability, biofilm disruption and cellular responses.
Antimicrobial Peptides
Antimicroibal peptides are biologically active molecules that contribute to innate immunity through direct antimicrobial activity and modulation of host immune responses. Their diverse mechanisms of action, including membrane disruption, interference with intracellular processes and modulation of biofilm-associated pathways, offer opportunities to develop therapeutic strategies against drug-resistant pathogens.
Our research investigates the incorporation of AMPs into advanced biomaterial delivery systems to improve their stability, local bioavailability and therapeutic performance. We engineer peptide-functionalised surfaces, nanoparticles, hydrogels, emulsion-based gels and additively manufactured constructs to enable localised and controlled peptide delivery.
Current research focuses on understanding how peptide chemistry, formulation properties and release behaviour influence antimicrobial and antibiofilm efficacy, particularly against clinically relevant pathogens including Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli.
We also investigate the interactions between peptide-loaded biomaterials and mammalian cells, with emphasis on cytocompatibility, inflammatory responses and tissue repair. These studies support the development of multifunctional antimicrobial technologies for infected wounds and other localised infections.
Antimicrobial Metals and Functional Surfaces
Antimicrobial metals, including silver and copper, offer broad-spectrum activity through mechanisms involving membrane damage, oxidative stress, protein dysfunction and disruption of essential cellular processes. Their incorporation into biomaterials provides opportunities to engineer surfaces and therapeutic platforms that reduce microbial colonisation and biofilm formation.
Our research explores the integration of antimicrobial metals into polymeric materials, electrospun fibres, coatings and other engineered constructs. We investigate how metal composition, distribution, oxidation state and ion-release behaviour influence antimicrobial performance and host cell compatibility.
By establishing relationships between material properties, antimicrobial mechanisms and biological responses, we aim to develop functional materials that provide effective infection control while minimising unwanted cytotoxic effects.