Project description
Evaluation of the antibacterial properties of boron-functionalised carbon dots
Carbon dots (CDs) are a new member of the carbon-based nanomaterials family with a typical size smaller than 10 nm. Recently, CDs have been applied in various fields due to their high photoluminescence, good stability, low toxicity, and tuneable surface functionalities. Among CDs, boron-doped CDs (BCDs) have attracted great attention as they show high antimicrobial activity, offering the potential to help reduce antibiotic overuse. The MSCA-funded HyperABCD project aims to develop the process of hydrothermal conversion of a boron hyperaccumulator plant biomass into BCDs. The project will subsequently evaluate the susceptibility of Gram-negative and Gram-positive species against BCDs and examine the toxicity of BCDs on various human cell lines.
Objective
The antibiotics’ overuse exerts selective evolutionary pressure on microbial pathogens, leading to the emergence of resistant strains. To reduce the likelihood of future epi/pandemics of bacterial origin, it is, thus, essential to put alternatives in action and consume antibiotics more sparingly. While the heavy metal-based antimicrobial agents are convenient for some uses, they bring human and environmental toxicity issues and suffer from microbial resistance. With their potentially low risk of resistance development, carbon-based nanomaterials seem like promising substitutes. Carbon dots (CDs) are particularly interesting owing to their small size, good solubility, and relative affordability, and boron-doped CDs (BCDs) deserve even greater attention as they typically show high antimicrobial activity. However, our current understanding of the toxicity profile of BCDs is fragmented and limited to materials synthesized by small molecular synthetic precursors as carbon and boron sources. In the project HyperABCD, we will first show the hydrothermal conversion of a boron-hyperaccumulator plant (biomass) into BCDs. Then, we will explore the antibacterial activity of BCDs on Gram-negative and Gram-positive species using various bacterial susceptibility tests. Next, we will undertake toxicological evaluations at different levels. To this end, we will perform standard viability tests with various human cell lines as well as a mutagenicity test. The assembled research team is fully competent to realize the ambitious goals of the proposed cross-European effort. I am a multidisciplinary researcher specializing in antimicrobial nanocarbons. The primary host (Dr. Alberto Bianco, CNRS, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology) is among the pioneers of biomedical nanocarbon research, and our co-host Prof. Tom Coenye (Ghent University) is a renowned expert on microbiology. Our industrial partner, PavTec (Turkey), is a leading company in developing boron-based specialty chemicals.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- medical and health sciences basic medicine pharmacology and pharmacy pharmaceutical drugs antibiotics
- engineering and technology nanotechnology nano-materials
- natural sciences chemical sciences inorganic chemistry metalloids
- natural sciences biological sciences microbiology
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
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Topic(s)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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Call for proposal
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2022-PF-01
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75794 Paris
France
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