UC chemistry, P&G collaborate on antibacterial research

Chemistry students in UC’s College of Arts and Sciences are working with Cincinnati-based consumer goods giant Procter & Gamble in its research & development lab in Mason.

Working with UC Assistant Professor Pietro Strobbia, chemistry grads Der Vang and Manisha Sheokand used nanoparticles to identify the molecular composition of bacteria using tools that measure color and light called spectroscopy.

Antibiotic- and antibacterial-resistant bacteria continue to pose a global health threat. Understanding how antibacterial agents work against particular bacteria is crucial for developing precise and novel treatment methods.

“The study uses tiny star-shaped particles made of gold and silver called nanostars. When a laser shines on bacteria treated with antibacterial agents , the nanostars increase the signal in a unique way,” said Vang, the lead author of a study on the project published in the journal ACS Sensors.

Spectroscopy helps researchers identify changes in the bacteria, Strobbia said.

“The nanostars work as an antenna for light,” Strobbia said. “If you mix that with bacteria, the light you get back is stronger and has molecular info about the bacteria.”

“When you treat a bacteria, there are different ways it can stress and kill it,” said Tom Cambron, a study co-author and director and principal scientist at P&G. “These are all known processes. But understanding which or how many are in play for different ingredients is not an easy thing to do.”

Vang said the nanostar method is faster than traditional methods of studying the response of bacteria. And by studying the bacteria at the molecular level, they can get a more detailed understanding of the most effective properties to apply for the best results.

“For companies like P&G, it holds the promise of accelerating product development, reducing research costs and enhancing product efficacy,” Vang said.

“We’ve developed a new and novel technique that complements the traditional methods we have,” Cambron said.

The project was funded through the P&G Digital Accelerator at UC’s 1819 Innovation Hub, the university’s dedicated center for industry, inventors, innovators and entrepreneurs.

UC and P&G are hardly strangers in the field of chemistry. P&G is a global consumer goods leader that makes a wide range of household products from laundry detergent to toilet paper to soaps. Many UC students work in internships or co-ops or go on to a myriad of careers at the publicly traded company.

UC’s Sheokand is pursuing a doctoral degree in chemistry.

“Working with P&G gave me a real sense of how industry operates — fast-moving, collaborative and driven by impact. It was an inspiring experience that broadened my perspective,” she said.

Sheokand said she would like to combine her interest and expertise in chemistry with industrial research.

“I'm really looking forward to pursuing a career in industry where I can contribute to research that makes a direct difference in people’s lives,” she said. “Industry provides a unique environment to move from discovery to deployment. And that sense of immediate, tangible impact is very motivating for me.”

Cambron and Strobbia met at a spectroscopy conference three years ago and began working on new research projects.

“It’s been a fruitful and prosperous collaboration,” P&G’s Cambron said.

Students get firsthand experience working in an industrial laboratory, he said.

“We have a lot of analytical capability. Our labs don’t look much different from academic labs,” he said.

“It’s great for students to learn how things work within a company and an R&D lab,” Strobbia said. “A lot of them will not stay in academia forever, so learning how this works for a company is important.”

Vang said her experience at P&G showed her how science can make a difference in people’s lives. Her work at the R&D lab was memorable, teaching her about teamwork and innovation, she said.

“I learned a lot on the technical side, but it also pushed me beyond the lab to consider real-world uses, solving problems and helping people through research,” she said.

Sheokand agreed, saying working with industry partners gives students a window into the possibilities of their chosen fields.

“It fosters meaningful collaboration, gives students like me a chance to engage with cutting-edge industrial research and really bridges the gap between academia and application,” she said.

“Anyone who works in science has to be attracted to a challenge. Every day is different,” Cambron said. “It’s a learning environment. I learn every day and I’ve been doing this for 30 years.”

Featured image at top: UC Assistant Professor Pietro Strobbia and doctoral student Manisha Sheokand worked with P&G on a new research project. Here they stand in front of bronze plaque featuring the P&G logo. Photo/Michael Miller