Noreen J. Hickok, PhD
Associate Professor

Contact
1015 Walnut Street
Curtis Building, Room 501
Philadelphia, PA 19107
215-955-6979
215-955-9159 fax
Noreen J. Hickok, PhD
Associate Professor
Recent Publications
- Microbubble cavitation restores Staphylococcus aureus antibiotic susceptibility in vitro and in a septic arthritis model
- Berberine disrupts staphylococcal proton motive force to cause potent anti-staphylococcal effects in vitro
- Evaluation of bacterial attachment on mineralized collagen scaffolds and addition of manuka honey to increase mesenchymal stem cell osteogenesis
- A scoping review of penile implant biofilms—what do we know and what remains unknown?
- A Platelet-Rich Plasma-Derived Biologic Clears Staphylococcus aureus Biofilms While Mitigating Cartilage Degeneration and Joint Inflammation in a Clinically Relevant Large Animal Infectious Arthritis Model
Expertise & Research Interests
Infection following placement of therapeutic implants is a devastating complication that results in pain, increased disability, and the need for aggressive therapeutic intervention. This implant-associated infection is very recalcitrant to treatment with antibiotics. Firstly, bacteria adhere to and secrete a biofilm on metallic surfaces, embedding the bacteria within a matrix that limits accessibility by antibiotics and/or immune surveillance. Secondly, eukaryotic cells can harbor viable bacteria, allowing establishment of latent infections. Current research efforts are centered around strategies to subvert the ability of microorganisms to colonize these implants, as well as to prevent their propagation in the space immediately surrounding the implant. Specifically, we have discovered that we can decorate the surfaces of metal implants with antibiotics and other anti-microbial agents to produce an implant that is resistant to colonization by bacteria. Currently, we are expanding the ability of the implant surface to be an active anti-infective agent while maximizing its biocompatibility. In parallel, we are investigating mechanisms of bacteria colonization of eukaryotic cells and how to harness the cells machinery to eliminate internalized bacteria. These studies span fields related to bioengineering, tissue engineering, biochemistry, and biology to produce new translational products that can improve the outcome of implantations.