Sonia Trigueros
Research Fellow in Biological Physics, University of Oxford
Speaker
Sonia Trigueros is a Research Fellow
in Biological Physics and a James Martin Fellow in the Institute of Nanoscience
for Medicine, Oxford University. She has over 12 years experience in the fields
of Molecular Cell Biology, Biochemistry, DNA Topology, Nanoscience and
Nanobiology. She graduated in Biology from the Universidad de Barcelona, and
obtained her PhD in Molecular Cell Biology from IBMB-CSIC and Universidad de
Barcelona. She has received postdoctoral research fellowships at both Harvard
and Oxford Universities. She has been a research visitor at several universities
and research institutions such as NIH-Washington, USA. Currently she is Visiting
Researcher at Havana University/CNIC. From July 2007 Sonia
has been based in the Department of Physics at Oxford University.
Sonia Trigeuros’
current research is focused on the design of novel nanostructures to target DNA
Biomolecular Motors (DNA topoisomerases and DNA translocases) and particular DNA
conformational states in dividing cells (in particular in cancer cells).
Presentation Summary
Nanoparticles that can efficiently kill drug
resistant bacteria have been developed in the laboratory. When metalicized and
stabilized they can be incorporated into materials such as paint, and used
effectively to control the spread of bacteria. They could be used to great
impact, for example on air conditioning units and other surfaces in hospitals
where the spread of drug resistant bacteria is highest, or surfaces inside
airplanes where the spread of contagious diseases has become almost inevitable.
This application of nanotechnology offers a new generation of extraordinarily
effective antibiotics to which bacteria will never be resistant.
For such technology to fulfill its
potential, education to remove the element of fear and to ensure society
understands the remarkable potential nanotechnology will be needed.
