A remarkable innovation in the field of medical technology is the development of smart bandages that can detect and treat bacterial infections, including those resistant to antibiotics. Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences have created these bandages that change color to indicate the nature of bacteria present in wounds.
The smart bandages work by leveraging the chemistry of bacterial infections. They contain a chemical called nitrocefin that interacts with β-lactamase, an enzyme produced by antibiotic-resistant bacteria. When nitrocefin encounters β-lactamase, it breaks down and turns the bandage red, signaling the presence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. For detecting normal, antibiotic-sensitive bacteria, the bandages use bromophenol blue, which turns yellow in acidic conditions caused by bacterial infections. If no infection is present, the bandage remains green.
Additionally, the design of these smart bandages allows them to not only diagnose but also treat infections. When exposed to UV light, the bandages produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) that puncture the protective membranes of bacterial cells, restoring their susceptibility to standard antibiotics. This feature makes the bandages both diagnostic and curative tools.
These bandages have shown promising results in tests conducted on mice infected with antibiotic-sensitive and antibiotic-resistant strains of E. Coli. The color change, which initially took a day or two, has been optimized to occur within just 2-4 hours. The researchers are hopeful that these bandages can be manufactured at scale to combat the growing problem of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which currently accounts for around 700,000 deaths annually.
The creation of these smart bandages represents a significant step forward in the fight against antibiotic-resistant bacteria, potentially revolutionizing how infections are detected and treated in wounds.