Ronda Bibbs
Johnson C Smith University, NC·Microbiology & Immunology
Bacteria that resist antibiotics are a growing medical threat, so researchers are looking for other ways to stop bacterial growth. One idea is to use silver nanoparticles, tiny particles of silver that can harm microbes.
- Fields
Microbiology & Immunology
Chemistry
Materials Science
- Topics
silver nanoparticles
AgNPs
green nanotechnology
- Grants
- 1 known grant, through Aug 2027
What they work on
- Determine whether citrus plant extracts, which contain natural phytochemicals, slow the growth of different isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae, a bacterium behind pneumonia.
- Examine how silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) made with citrus peel extract affect the growth of free-floating (planktonic) S. pneumoniae.
- Measure whether citrus peel-synthesized silver nanoparticles are toxic to noncancerous upper respiratory cell lines, to judge their safety for human tissue.
- Characterize the green-synthesized nanoparticles' size, charge, crystal structure and shape using UV-Vis, FTIR, dynamic light scattering, zeta potential, XRD, TEM and SEM.
More about the research
This project asks whether these particles can be made in a cheap, eco-friendly way using citrus fruit peels, and whether they work against Streptococcus pneumoniae, a bacterium that causes pneumonia and other respiratory infections.
Why it matters
Antimicrobial resistance makes many infections harder to treat. Silver nanoparticles made cheaply from citrus peel could offer a more economical and eco-friendly way to block bacterial growth. The grant notes possible uses in coatings or treatments for medical implants such as catheters, joint prostheses and pacemakers, and for dental and orthodontic devices. It also notes uses in preventing bacterial buildup (biofouling) in pipes, ship hulls, food processing equipment and water systems.
Known grants
From NIH and NSF research grants. Labs often have other funding we can't see.
Closest labs
Jung-Jae Lee
University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus, CO·Chemistry
Develop near-infrared chemiluminescent and fluorescent chitosan nanoparticles that are stored cold and activated by body heat, giving a self-illuminating contrast agent that needs no external light source.
Ola Rashwan
Pennsylvania State University, PA·Engineering
Test whether adding a dispersion agent stops silver nanoparticles from clumping inside PAEK polymer filament, and improves extrusion into filament with a consistent diameter.
Michael Johnson
University of Arizona, AZ·Microbiology & Immunology
Measure how Streptococcus pneumoniae changes its gene activity and metabolite levels across a range of copper and zinc concentrations, using transcriptomics and metabolomics in a minimal, host-like growth medium.
The school
Johnson C Smith University: 2 labs on PI Pages.
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