China scientists make bacteria-beating bandage to outsmart superbugs
- Researchers say the ‘test-to-treat’ smart dressing can identify and treat drug-resistant bacteria as well as common infections
- Hydrogel layer placed against a wound changes colour within three hours if an infection is present, they say
The research team from China’s Northeastern University (NEU) said its “test-to-treat” bandage pad can be used anywhere, at any time using a simple colour code, according to the paper published in peer-reviewed journal ACS Nano this month.
The researchers, led by NEU professors Song Yan-yan and Ding Chen, developed a double-layered hydrogel bandage, with a green layer that changes to yellow within three hours of being placed against a wound if an infection is present.
If the pad remains yellow, a drug-sensitive (DS) bacterial infection is present which can be treated by placing another hydrogel layer on top of the first pad to release a commonly used antibiotic into the wound.
But a further colour change to red indicates the presence of drug-resistant (DR) bacteria – the so-called superbugs that are posing an increasing challenge in the fight against infectious diseases.
