New Polymer Development: Scientists at Texas A&M University have developed a novel family of polymers capable of killing antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Targeting Antibiotic Resistance: These polymers are effective against bacteria like E. coli and MRSA and do not induce antibiotic resistance, a critical advantage in combating superbugs.

Mechanism of Action: The polymers work by disrupting the membranes of bacteria, a method distinct from traditional antibiotics, which often target bacterial growth or DNA replication.

Balancing Selectivity and Toxicity: A significant focus of the research is on achieving the right balance between effectively inhibiting bacterial growth and minimizing toxicity to human cells.

Future Research Directions: The team, led by Dr. Quentin Michaudel, is working on improving the selectivity of these polymers for bacterial cells over human cells and plans to conduct in vivo assays to further validate their effectiveness.