FORGET antibiotics, let鈥檚 try nanoparticles. That鈥檚 according to , the US military鈥檚 research arm, which says that rather than spend money on new antibiotics, which only work until bacterial strains grow resistant, 鈥渞eadily adaptable nanotherapeutics鈥� can fight infection instead.
The agency has to find ways to use small interfering RNA (siRNA) to fight bacteria. These scraps of genetic code seek out their mirror image within cells, such as bacteria, and silence them. This stops protein production and leads to cell death.
DARPA is seeking ideas for adaptable nanoparticles that can be 鈥渞eprogrammed on the fly鈥� by loading up specific siRNA to deal with outbreaks among troops.
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聯The US military is seeking adaptable nanoparticles that can be reprogrammed on the fly to fight bacteria聰
As with GPS systems and the internet, this innovation might benefit the military initially, but eventually become a model for mainstream medication.
