Dr Sobhan Mortazavi-Derazkola

My research focuses on developing atomically precise, multi-ligated nanoclusters as novel antibacterial agents to tackle bacterial antibiotic resistance (BAR), a major global health threat. By systematically tuning ligand terminal charge, density, and hydrophobicity, I aim to optimize nanocluster stability, biocompatibility, and antibacterial potency. My work involves synthesizing and characterizing nanoclusters with defined molecular formulas, studying their mechanisms in bacterial cell cultures and biofilms, and establishing structure-function relationships. Ultimately, this research seeks to create effective strategies, including nanocluster-antibiotic synergy, to combat multidrug-resistant bacterial infections and address the urgent challenge of BAR.