Akanksha Gupta

Ms. Akanksha Gupta

Bar Ilan Institute for nanotechnology & advanced materials (BINA), Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan, 5290002, Isreal

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

5Years (2022-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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9 February 2022 in Macromol
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
Maruthapandi MoorthyMaruthapandi Moorthy
Maruthapandi Moorthy
Saravanan ArumugamSaravanan Arumugam
Saravanan Arumugam
AGAkanksha Gupta
Akanksha Gupta
JLJohn H. T. Luong
John H. T. Luong
Aharon GedankenAharon Gedanken
Aharon Gedanken
Conducting polymers, mainly polyaniline (PANI) and polypyrrole (PPY) with positive charges bind to the negatively charged bacterial membrane to interfere with bacterial activities. After this initial electrostatic adherence, the conducting polymers might partially penetrate the bacterial membrane and interact with other intracellular biomolecules. Conducting polymers can form polymer composites with metal, metal oxides, and nanoscale carbon materials as a new class of antimicrobial agents with enhanced antimicrobial properties. The accumulation of elevated oxygen reactive species (ROS) from composites of polymers-metal nanoparticles has harmful effects and induces cell death. Among such ROS, the hydroxyl radical with one unpaired electron in the structure is most effective as it can oxidize any bacterial biomolecules, leading to cell death. Future endeavors should focus on the combination of conducting polymers and their composites with antibiotics, small peptides, and natural molecules with antimicrobial properties. Such arsenals with low cytotoxicity are expected to eradicate the ESKAPE pathogens: Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter spp.