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Color-changing bandages sense and treat bacterial infections

Date:
January 29, 2020
Source:
American Chemical Society
Summary:
Antibiotic resistance is one of the biggest threats to global health. Sensing and treating bacterial infections earlier could help improve patients' recovery, as well curb the spread of antibiotic-resistant microbes. Now, researchers have developed color-changing bandages that can sense drug-resistant and drug-sensitive bacteria in wounds and treat them accordingly.
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According to the World Health Organization, antibiotic resistance is one of the biggest threats to global health. Sensing and treating bacterial infections earlier could help improve patients' recovery, as well curb the spread of antibiotic-resistant microbes. Now, researchers reporting in ACS Central Science have developed color-changing bandages that can sense drug-resistant and drug-sensitive bacteria in wounds and treat them accordingly.

Xiaogang Qu and colleagues developed a material that changes color from green to yellow when it contacts the acidic microenvironment of a bacterial infection. In response, the material, which is incorporated into a bandage, releases an antibiotic that kills drug-sensitive bacteria. If drug-resistant bacteria are present, the bandage turns red in color through the action of an enzyme produced by the resistant microbes. When this happens, the researchers can shine light on the bandage, causing the material to release reactive oxygen species that kill or weaken the bacteria, making them more susceptible to the antibiotic. The team showed that the bandage could speed the healing of wounds in mice that were infected with drug-sensitive or drug-resistant bacteria.


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Materials provided by American Chemical Society. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. Yuhuan Sun, Chuanqi Zhao, Jingsheng Niu, Jinsong Ren, Xiaogang Qu. Colorimetric Band-aids for Point-of-Care Sensing and Treating Bacterial Infection. ACS Central Science, 2020; DOI: 10.1021/acscentsci.9b01104

Cite This Page:

American Chemical Society. "Color-changing bandages sense and treat bacterial infections." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 29 January 2020. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/01/200129091415.htm>.
American Chemical Society. (2020, January 29). Color-changing bandages sense and treat bacterial infections. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 29, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/01/200129091415.htm
American Chemical Society. "Color-changing bandages sense and treat bacterial infections." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/01/200129091415.htm (accessed March 29, 2024).

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