The challenge was to arrive at an optimum number of peptides that are bound to nanoparticles to get the best results. When there are too few or too many peptides bound to the nanoparticles the antibacterial activity gets compromised. “There is significant antibacterial activity when about 1000 peptides are bound to a nanoparticle,” says Dr. Singh. Besides normal cells infected with bacteria, the peptide bound to nanoparticles will be particularly useful in the case of cancer patients suffering from bacterial infections. “Once the nanoconjugates enter the cancer cells they interact with the bacteria and kill them by disrupting the cell membrane.

Source: The Hindu August 05, 2017 13:30 UTC