Light-Activated Molecular Machines for Antifungal Therapy
April 25, 2023 | Terry Sharrer
“Here, it is reported [from researchers at Rice University] that 405-nm-visible-light-activated synthetic molecular machines (MMs) eliminate planktonic and biofilm fungal populations more effectively than conventional antifungals without resistance development. Mechanism-of-action studies show that MMs bind to fungal mitochondrial phospholipids. Upon visible light activation, rapid unidirectional drilling of MMs at ≈3 million cycles per second (MHz) results in mitochondrial dysfunction, calcium overload, and ultimately necrosis.” MORE
Image Credit; Onlinelibrary.wiley.com