In cases of biofilm infections, this approach has been found to decrease antibiotic requirements by more than 40-fold, successfully eliminating all bacteria at clinically viable doses.

The nanoparticles were tested against ten clinical strains, including E. Coli and MRSA, demonstrating a reduction in the antibiotic concentration needed to inhibit bacterial growth by over 10-fold in the absence of biofilms.

Researchers at the University of Oxford have developed an innovative ultrasound-activated nanoparticle drug delivery system designed to combat bacterial biofilms, a significant contributor to antibiotic resistance.

This cutting-edge system utilizes engineered nanoparticles that release antibiotics when activated by ultrasound, allowing for non-invasive disruption of biofilms and targeted treatment of infections.

Notably, the system has shown remarkable effectiveness against persister cells, reducing the required antibiotic concentration by 25-fold compared to traditional methods.

Professor Eleanor Stride highlighted the urgent need for such innovative treatments to prolong the effectiveness of antibiotics against chronic infections.

Biofilms are associated with a range of difficult-to-treat infections, including chronic wounds, urinary tract infections, and lung infections related to cystic fibrosis.

These biofilms, which are protective matrices formed by bacteria, contribute to antimicrobial resistance by shielding bacteria from immune responses and drugs, potentially increasing resistance by up to 1000-fold.

The research team is currently focused on refining the nanoparticle manufacturing process to prepare for clinical testing, with findings detailed in their recent publication in npj Antimicrobials and Resistance.