EOS (Engineering Of bacteria to See light) aims to explore new frontiers in the interaction between bacteria and photosensitive materials.
The primary objective of EOS is to connect bacteria with materials capable of converting light energy into electrical potential, allowing bacteria to utilize it for various biological activities such as proliferation and cellular movement.
The EOS project will explore two intriguing applications. Firstly, it will focus on the field of targeted drug delivery, seeking to control the movement of bacteria to use them as drug carriers. This technology could revolutionize treatment in parts of the body that are difficult to reach, such as the gastrointestinal tract.
Furthermore, EOS aims to contribute to the study and reduction of antibiotic resistance phenomena. Through the modulation of the electrical potential of bacteria, the project seeks to pave new ways in the fight against antibiotic resistance, a crucial issue for global health.
Within EOS, Giuseppe Maria Paternò leads a multidisciplinary research team, with expertise ranging from optical spectroscopy and microscopy to microbiology and biotechnology.