An antibacterial gel was found to effectively kill the most resistant hospital superbugs.
A School of Pharmacy at Queen's University Belfast research team have developed the first innovative antibacterial gels that kills Pseudomonas aeruginosa, staphylococci and E.coli using natural proteins.
"Biomaterial infections are responsible for high rates of patient mortality and morbidity. The presence of biofilm bacteria, which thrive on implant surfaces, are a huge burden on healthcare budgets, as they are highly resistant to current therapeutic strategies. Ultrashort cationic self-assembled peptides represent a highly innovative and cost-effective strategy to form antibacterial nanomaterials," the researcher wrote in their study abstract.
The method proved to reduce viable Staphylococcus epidermidis biofilm by 94 percent.
The gels can break down the thick jelly-like coating called biofilms, which cover bacteria and serve as a protection against modern therapies. When the bacteria attaches itself to surfaces such as medical implants and catheters, they produce this biofilm. This thick layer is almost impenetrable to antibiotics.
Bacteria remain hidden beneath their biofilm unaffected by attempts to eliminate them, allowing them to "grow and thrive."
"Our gels are unique as they target and kill the most resistant forms of hospital superbugs. It involves the use of gels composed of the building blocks of natural proteins, called peptides. The same ingredients that form human tissue. These molecules are modified slightly in the laboratory to allow them to form gels that will rapidly kill bacteria. This is further evidence of Queen's research advancing knowledge and changing lives," said Dr. Garry Laverty, from the School of Pharmacy at Queen's University, and lead researcher.
The approach was developed as part of an international collaboration between the School of Pharmacy at Queen's and the School of Chemistry at Brandeis University. The findings will be published in the journal Biomacromolecules next month.
