Antibiotic-resistant superbugs are being eradicated as next-generation nanotechnology shows it can eradicate some of the world’s most dangerous and potentially deadly bacteria.
Developed by the University of South Australia and published in Pharmaceutics, the new light therapy can kill antibiotic-resistant superbugs Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa 500,000 times and 100,000 times respectively. Staphylococcus aureus (staphylococcus aureus) and pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the most deadly bugs in the world. Worldwide, about 1.27 million people die from drug-resistant bacteria. Research leader Dr Muhammed Awad of UniSA said the new light therapy would be a game-changer for millions of people around the world.
“Staph. aureus and pseudomonas aeruginosa are highly infectious bacteria, commonly found on human skin. But if they enter the bloodstream, they can cause sepsis or even death,” says Dr Awad.
“Patients in hospital – especially those with wounds or catheters, or those on ventilators – have a high risk of contracting these bacteria, and although antibiotics can help, the use their frequent use has made waves of microbial resistance, often making them ineffective. “Our photodynamic technology works in a variety of ways, using the power of light to create oxygen that efficiently destroys microbial cells and kills harmful bacteria, without harming human cells.”
Researchers tested antimicrobial photodynamic therapy on recalcitrant bacteria caused by antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
Principal investigator Professor Clive Prestige of UniSA said the technology had some advantages over antibiotics and other light treatments. “The new treatment is created in an oil that floats on the wound like a lotion. When laser light is applied to the lotion, it creates a reactive oxygen species that make it an alternative to antibiotics,” explains Professor Prestige. “Current photoactive compounds also have low water absorption, which means they have limited clinical applications.
“Our method uses food-grade lipids to build nanocarriers for photoactive compounds that are more effective against bacteria than unstructured materials. “These cells target many bacterial cells at once, preventing bacteria from mutating and becoming resistant. Therefore, it is a more effective and stronger treatment. “Importantly, the human skin cells involved in the treatment showed a significant increase, while the resistant bacteria were completely eliminated.”
The results of not using superbugs are significant. Already, antibiotic-resistant bacteria cost millions of lives and billions of dollars to the global economy every year. “This technology is very good and is attracting the attention of scientists around the world,” says Professor Prestigge.
“The next step is to start clinical trials and develop this technology to make it available in hospitals. With support from funding agencies, we hope that Australians will have access to this technology as soon as possible.
