Gadget patch against superbugs
Uncontrolled access to antibiotics has created a global problem for humanity, which threatens to throw medicine back into the Middle Ages. The thing is that “undertreated” patients become an ideal base for the maturation of superbugs. Bacteria that are resistant to subsequent doses of antibiotics and infect everything. And there is no escape from them. At least not in the near future.
The essence of innovation in the fight against superbugs
As more and more disease-causing bacteria become more resistant to antibiotics, humanity needs fundamentally different ways of fighting it. One solution lies in electrical discharges, the correct supply of which prevents bacteria from penetrating our skin.
The breakthrough was made by researchers from the University of Chicago and the University of California at San Diego. In the article, published in Device magazine this week, the team detailed how the device reduces the activity of harmful genes in infectious bacteria and curbs population growth.
The study was successfully conducted using the bacterium Staphylococcus epidermidis on pig skin. This is a typical carrier of “hospital infections”, a bacterium that multiplies in hospitals, acquiring resistance to a wide range of antiseptics. Therefore, if the new solution is safe for humans and affects various types of bacterial infections, then this is literally a mini-revolution in the field of medicine.
Moreover, the role of bacteria and the microbiome as a whole is dangerous to underestimate. Our lifestyle and diet can directly affect how our intestinal microflora provokes the development of depression.
The principle of fighting superbugs
In the study, the scientists found that some bacteria were “selective” about the environment in which they became excitable. That is, the behavior of bacteria depended on the atmosphere that reigned around them. In particular, Staphylococcus epidermidis becomes excitable under healthy skin, which is an acidic environment.
Armed with this knowledge, the scientists set out to study the potential of the technology in practice, using pig skin, a hydrogel to recreate an acidic environment, and a flexible patch. The process itself is called: Bioelectronic Localized Antimicrobial Stimulating Therapy, or BLASTER.
The treatment principle is simple: Apply a weak electrical signal of 1.5 volts – well below the safe limit of 15 volts for humans – for 10 seconds every 10 minutes for 18 hours through a patch. This stopped 99% of the bacterial clumps that form to block medications and cause infections. There was also almost 10 times less S. epidermidis on the treated skin sample compared to the untreated skin sample after an 18-hour cycle.
Technology Outlook
This could be a big win in treating infections for several other reasons. In addition to targeting antibiotic-resistant bacteria, the technology could eliminate the need for antibiotics for common types of infections. The technology can be used in remote areas where it is difficult to deliver medicines on a regular basis. Additionally, the small patch allows for targeted treatment on a small area of skin, reducing the likelihood of potential side effects. As you might expect, there is still a lot of work to be done in this area.
The discovery of this selective excitability will help us learn how to control other types of bacteria by looking at different conditions.
Co-author Sehyun Kim of the University of Chicago.
Senior co-author Bozhi Tian, also from the University of Chicago, explained that it is possible to develop a patch with a wireless circuit to control infections without drugs, and to further evaluate the effectiveness of such treatments.
Bacterial resistance to antibiotics was a direct cause of 1.27 million deaths worldwide in 2019, according to the World Health Organization. This treatment could potentially help prevent serious illness caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria and save lives.
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