Nanolyx Inc.

I was thrilled to represent Nanolyx Inc. last Wednesday evening at The Eddies Showcase through Massachusetts Innovation Network! This year’s Eddies Finalist cohort included some truly talented innovators, advancing creative solutions to problems affecting both human and environmental health. I was humbled to present alongside my fellow Finalists and to bring attention to our mission at Nanolyx Inc.: developing plant-based disinfectants to safeguard human and environmental health against the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance. A huge shoutout to Massachusetts Innovation Network and their amazing staff. Much gratitude to the many VCs, angels, and other interested parties who attended the event, as well as my fellow Finalists whose vision made this night possible. A special thanks as well to Nutter for hosting this evening in their lovely seaport location! 

I noticed that I usually do not post anything on Fridays, so I included some extra reading for the week on recent news around topics that align with my PhD. Today's subject will be the link between antimicrobial resistance and animal agriculture. 🦠 As everyone should know, antibiotics are extensively used in food animals for disease treatment, prevention, and control. Historically, up to 97% of these medically important antimicrobials were available over-the-counter without prescription. Recent FDA regulations, including the Veterinary Feed Directive, have curbed this practice, and as of June 2023, all sales of medically important antibiotics now require veterinary oversight. Despite these measures, challenges remain. Even for prevention, antibiotics used at subtherapeutic doses can still promote resistance, impacting human health through the food chain, direct animal contact, and environmental pathways. 🐄 Evidence supports a clear link between antibiotic use in food animals and the emergence of resistant infections in humans, including vulnerable groups like infants and children. The selective pressure exerted by antibiotics, even those not classified as medically important in human medicine, like ionophores, contributes to the growing AMR crisis. 🌍 Children are particularly vulnerable to AMR infections. Pathogens like Salmonella and Campylobacter are leading causes of foodborne illness in young children, often linked to undercooked meat, unpasteurized dairy, and direct contact with animals. In the U.S., Salmonella causes over 120,000 illnesses and nearly 4,700 hospitalizations annually in children under five, with many infections traced back to animal contact and contaminated pet food. Meanwhile, Campylobacter infections, linked to exposure to farm animals and backyard poultry, are on the rise, with increasing resistance to commonly used antibiotics. 🚨 While recent policy changes have led to positive shifts, further action is needed. Enhanced regulatory oversight, increased advocacy, and dedicated resources are essential to ensure judicious antibiotic use across all sectors. By uniting human, animal, and environmental health efforts, we can make strides toward curbing antibiotic overuse and safeguarding public health. Learn more about this topic here: https://lnkd.in/epfb5cYd #AntimicrobialResistance #OneHealth #PublicHealth #Antibiotics #Agriculture #Sustainability #GlobalHealth P.S. Image from a related post from 2020: https://lnkd.in/epNSeeZM

The global production of disinfectants produces millions of tons of waste each year and contributes several million metric tons of CO2 emissions. Additionally, the rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in bacteria is a pressing problem. The World Health Organization predicts that AMR results in an estimated 1.27 millions deaths each year directly, while contributing to an additional 5 million deaths annually and billions in associated healthcare, productivity, and material costs. The solution we have developed at Nanolyx Inc. is designed to address both these problems simultaneously. Our patented technology enables the production of potent antimicrobials from select bio-waste to support a circular economy. Most importantly, our particles exhibit broad-spectrum antimicrobial properties without contributing to the development of resistance. Solutions of this type are desperately needed across various industries, and we are working hard to bring to market more sustainable antimicrobials. We are grateful to Massachusetts Innovation Network for supporting us in this mission, and for our fellow finalist cohort at The Eddies 2024, comprising companies who are each bringing innovative solutions to unique challenges in human and environmental health.

I would like to welcome Srilakshmi Palleboyina to Nanolyx Inc.! Sri is joining us from Northeastern University, where she recently earned a master’s degree in engineering management with a concentration on data analytics engineering. Sri will be instrumental in analyzing and evaluating financial reports to identify market opportunities and build cost-saving projections. As our team is currently quite lean, Sri will also support a range of other tasks related to the operation and development of our company. We’re super excited to have Sri onboard! We look forward to working collaboratively with her to bring to market desperately needed antimicrobial solutions that are lasting, safe and effective. Stay tuned for some more exciting developments coming soon!

If the last 5 years have taught us anything, it is how quickly a pathogen can turn our world upside down. The Covid-19 pandemic roiled global economies and societal infrastructure, infiltrating nearly every aspect of our lives. Healthcare settings, product supply chains, even our physical and mental health, were jeopardized by a microbial threat. This microbial menace appeared seemingly out of nowhere, and many of the areas it impacted have yet to fully recover. To address this acute problem, we dramatically increased our use of antimicrobials of all kinds, with some manufacturers reporting a 400-500% increase in production. The unfortunate consequence of this action was to accelerate the selection of pathogens with antimicrobial resistance (AMR). While not as catastrophic as the covid-19 pandemic, antimicrobial resistance represents a significant and accelerating crisis and is listed by the World Health Organization as a top threat to public health and development. It is estimated that within the US, antimicrobial resistance incurs $20 billion of direct healthcare costs annually while incurring an additional $35 billion in lost productivity. This issue currently impacts various aspects of national economies including healthcare, agriculture, and sanitation. At Nanolyx, we’re developing bio-based nano and microparticles with potent antimicrobial properties. Not only do our solutions address the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance, but we also leverage an eco-friendly synthesis process incorporating recycled biomass to contribute to a circular economy. We are committed to safeguarding human health while simultaneously mitigating environmental harm. Many thanks to Massachusetts Innovation Network network for the spotlight. We look forward to deploying our novel technology across various industries! Also note that our website is under development currently but should be finished shortly. We will announce when it is back up and we invite you all to check us out!

I was very excited to attend the Summer Social event through Massachusetts Innovation Network at Portal Innovations, LLC this past Wednesday!   This event facilitated an opportunity to network with various mentors, experts, and entities in the venture capital space. This also provided a chance to check in with many of my fellow founders and finalists within The Eddies 2024, who like myself, are seeking to commercialize and develop businesses to solve global and consumer challenges across various industries.   Events such as this facilitate critical engagement between entrepreneurs and supportive resources, and I am exceedingly grateful to all who helped make this event happen. Special thanks to all members of Massachusetts Innovation Network for planning and for sponsoring refreshments, Portal Innovations, LLC for hosting, The McCarthy(s) Venture Mentoring Network for co-hosting and attending, and all entrepreneurs and mentors for attending and sharing your knowledge and vision. I look forward to the next time we cross paths!