Our Crowdfunding Groups
We are part of the Gemstone 2027 Cohort, and our mission is to harness the natural antimicrobial properties of organic compounds found in cruciferous vegetables to prevent and treat surgical site infections (SSIs).
Surgical site infections (SSIs) are a critical public health concern, despite intensive efforts to reduce contamination in healthcare settings. The rise of antibiotic resistance exacerbates this problem, not only increasing the likelihood of contracting SSIs but also making them harder to treat. Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), a leading cause of SSIs, is particularly concerning due to its resistance to commonly used antibiotics, including penicillin and methicillin. SSIs have significant consequences such as longer hospital stays, increasing likelihood for greater infection, and keeping patients away from loved ones and work. Furthermore, they are responsible for 11% of all ICU deaths, and incur an estimated 3.3 billion dollars annually in on the U.S. healthcare system.
We propose a novel approach to combating SSIs by harnessing the antimicrobial properties of cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli. These vegetables contain bioactive compounds, including glucosinolates, which have demonstrated promise in preliminary studies for inhibiting bacterial growth. However, key details—such as the most effective preparation and extraction methods—remain underexplored, which we plan on diving into, with your support.
Our team aims to identify the most effective antimicrobial compounds from cruciferous vegetables, particularly those that can inhibit the growth of S. aureus. We will build upon existing methods for extracting compounds from broccoli, expanding this research to test their effectiveness against various bacterial strains and biofilms. Our research will focus on two main components:
Extraction of Antimicrobial Compounds: We will test various methods for extracting bioactive compounds from cruciferous vegetables, focusing on those with antimicrobial properties.
Testing Against S. aureus Biofilms: We will assess the effectiveness of these different compounds and extraction methods in inhibiting S. aureus biofilms, a key factor in SSI development and resistance to treatment.
By the conclusion of our project and with your support, we plan on being able to pinpoint the most effective antimicrobial compounds from cruciferous vegetables and extraction methods for these compounds. Ultimately, these results will provide critical information on the preparation methods for these compounds, which can be applied to the development of antimicrobial-coated sutures. By integrating these bioactive compounds into surgical sutures, we hope to create a new tool for preventing SSIs and reducing reliance on antibiotics, ultimately addressing the rising problem of antibiotic resistance.
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