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AssigneeNortheastern University
InventorsDavid Medina CRUZ, Thomas J. WEBSTER
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Selenium (Se) nanostructures are synthesized using bacteria, and the synthetic method provides options for specific functionalization of the nanostructures, targeting, as well as options for crystal form of and for additives to the composition. In addition to drug delivery and imaging options, the synthesized Se nanostructures provide methods of inhibiting drug resistant bacterial cells and cancer cells without cytotoxicity towards normal human cells and dermal fibroblasts. The green chemistry methods for synthesizing Se nanostructures do not produce toxic byproducts and do not require toxic reagents in comparison to traditional chemical synthetic methods for making Se nanostructures, while simultaneously producing new therapeutic benefits and treatments.
A method of inhibiting the growth of a drug-resistant bacterial pathogen in a subject, the method comprising administering selenium nanoparticles to the subject, whereby the growth of the bacterial pathogen in the subject is inhibited;
A method of inhibiting the growth of cancer cells, the method comprising administering to a subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of selenium nanoparticles;
Selenium nanoparticles produced by a process comprising growing a first type of bacteria in the presence of a selenium salt, wherein selenium ions of the salt are reduced to elemental selenium, wherein the selenium nanoparticles selectively inhibit growth of the first type of bacteria more than the selenium nanoparticles inhibit growth of a second type of bacteria.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.