Aptamer Functionalised Stearic Acid Nanoparticle for the Selective Delivery of Antibiotics

The thesis explored novel nanoparticles made of stearic acid that specifically targeted Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. This was achieved by attaching small DNA molecules called aptamers to the nanoparticle's surface using a novel chemical linkage. When an antibiotic was added to these nanoparticles, they were more effective at killing bacteria than free antibiotic. Adding a dye to the nanoparticles caused the Staphylococcus aureus cells to glow, while leaving other bacteria unaffected, demonstrating the nanoparticles' specificity for those bacteria. This novel approach can be used to deliver customised treatments directly to Staphylococcus aureus or other cells by changing the aptamer.