The present invention relates to bacteria-targeting nanoparticles and related methods of use. In particular, the present invention relates to dendrimer nanoparticles conjugated with Vancomycin and/or Polymixin (e.g., Polymixin B, Polymixin E). In certain embodiments, such dendrimer nanoparticles are used to sequester and/or identify bacteria (e.g., Gram-positive bacteria and/or Gram-negative bacteria), screen liquid samples (e.g., water samples, food samples, pharmaceutical samples, blood samples, blood platelet samples, etc.) for the presence of bacteria (e.g., Gram-positive bacteria and/or Gram-negative bacteria), treat disorders associated with bacteria (e.g., Gram-positive bacteria and/or Gram-negative bacteria), and/or identify, sequester, and remove bacteria (e.g., Gram-positive bacteria and/or Gram-negative bacteria) from a liquid sample (e.g., water sample, food sample, pharmaceutical sample, blood sample, blood platelet sample, etc.). In certain embodiments, iron oxide nanoparticles are coated with dendrimer nano-particles conjugated with Vancomycin and/or Polymixin.
