New Superbug-Destroying Coating Could Prevent and Treat Deadly Infections
Written by AZoNanoApr 15 2021
A new superbug-destroying coating developed by scientists could be utilized on implants and wound dressings to inhibit and treat potentially lethal fungal and bacterial infections.
Candida auris fungus before exposure to ultrathin layers of black phosphorous (left) and after (right). Image Credit: RMIT Australia.
The material is considered as one of the thinnest antimicrobial coatings created so far and is powerful against an extensive range of drug-resistant fungal and bacterial cells but harmless against human cells.
Antibiotic resistance is considered a significant universal health threat, resulting in a minimum of 700,000 deaths annually. The lack of development of new antibacterial therapies could increase the death toll to 10 million people annually by 2050, which relates to $US100 trillion in health care charges.
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IMAGE: A fungal cell (green) interacting with a nanothin layer of black phosphorous (red). Image magnified 25,000 times. view more
Credit: RMIT University
Researchers have developed a new superbug-destroying coating that could be used on wound dressings and implants to prevent and treat potentially deadly bacterial and fungal infections.
The material is one of the thinnest antimicrobial coatings developed to date and is effective against a broad range of drug-resistant bacteria and fungal cells, while leaving human cells unharmed.
Antibiotic resistance is a major global health threat, causing at least 700,000 deaths a year. Without the development of new antibacterial therapies, the death toll could rise to 10 million people a year by 2050, equating to $US100 trillion in health care costs.