Antibacterial materials inspired by tiny scorpion-like peptides
Official title: Antimicrobial agents derived from AApeptide biomaterials
Funded at Purdue University · NIH-11422708 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A Purdue-led project is creating new small, HDP-mimicking molecules to kill a wide range of bacteria and fight antibiotic resistance.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Purdue University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (West Lafayette, United States) |
| Project start | September 3, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $442,500 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AI200929-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11422708 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with or at high risk for bacterial infections caused by drug-resistant organisms, where new antimicrobial options are needed.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with infections caused by bacteria already susceptible to available antibiotics may not gain added benefit.
What this research studies
This project aims to design and test novel AApeptide-derived biomaterials that mimic host-defense peptides to attack bacteria. By making small, amphipathic, positively charged molecules, researchers hope to disrupt bacterial membranes and reduce the chance of resistance. The work builds on prior hydantoin-based compounds and seeks scalable, cost-effective antibiotics that work against drug-resistant pathogens. Outcomes could lead to new materials or drugs that supplement or replace some traditional antibiotics. The grant supports translation toward clinically useful antimicrobial agents with broad-spectrum activity.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could benefit from new antibiotics or biomaterials that treat resistant infections more effectively.
How similar studies have gone: Related HDP-mimicking compounds have shown promise in preclinical work, but this approach remains translational and not yet proven in humans.
Where this research is happening
-
Purdue University
West Lafayette, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cai, Jianfeng — Purdue University
- Study coordinator: Cai, Jianfeng
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Meltblown scaffolds to help irreparable rotator cuff tears
A new 3-D biomaterial scaffold made from meltblown technology aims to improve interposition grafts for people with irreparable rotator cuff tears.
-
Targeting how RMS cells fail to mature to slow or stop pediatric muscle cancer spread
A project to understand why a pediatric muscle cancer called rhabdomyosarcoma spreads, and to test ideas that could slow or stop it by helping cancer cells mature properly.
-
Risk stratification of malaria in school-age children using mobile eye-based spectroscopy
A low-cost, phone-based method uses pictures of the inner eyelid to identify which children in high-risk areas should get malaria tests.
-
Dual-AAV gene replacement approach for SCN2A-related neurodevelopmental disorders
A gene therapy approach using two AAV vectors to restore SCN2A function in children with SCN2A-related neurodevelopmental disorders.
-
Personalized use of newer diabetes medicines for Type 2 diabetes
Aiming to tailor use of newer glucose-lowering drugs for people with type 2 diabetes to improve health and access in real-world settings.
-
Intelligent social risk management for people with Alzheimer's and related dementias
Aimed at people living with dementia, this project uses AI and real-world health data to identify and address social factors that affect their care and quality of life.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.