Australian researchers develop nanotech to combat superbugs

Australian researchers have developed a nano-thin material that can be integrated into wound dressings to prevent or heal infections, reported Xinhua.

In a new study published yesterday, the team from the University of South Australia (UniSA) and Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) revealed that the material is effective against a broad range of drug-resistant bacterial cells, also known as superbugs.

The results of advanced pre-clinical trials published in the study showed that the black phosphorus-based nanotechnology can effectively kill over 99 per cent of bacteria without damaging other cells.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), drug-resistant diseases are one of the top 10 global public health threats facing humanity and could cause 10 million deaths annually by 2050.

Zlatko Kopecki, lead author of the research from UniSA’s Future Industries Institute, said in a press release on Wednesday that trials found that the material significantly reduced infection and accelerated healing.

“This is exciting as the treatment is comparable to the ciprofloxacin antibiotic in eradicating wound infection and in accelerating healing, with wounds closing by 80 per cent over seven days.

“We urgently need to develop new alternative non-antibiotic approaches to treat and manage wound infections.

“The black phosphorus seems to have hit the spot, and we look forward to seeing the translation of this research into clinical treatment of chronic wounds.”

The team is looking for industry partners to collaborate with developing and prototyping the technology.

Aaron Elbourne, co-lead researcher from RMIT, said treating drug-resistant pathogens is becoming increasingly challenging.

“If we could make our invention a commercial reality in the clinical setting, these superbugs wouldn’t know what hit them,” he said.