Portables eliminate infections by targeting antibiotic-resistant bacteria

As more disease-causing bacteria become increasingly resistant to antibiotics, we need more ways to fight infections. This is where this new patch comes in. With just a gentle electric shock, this bioelectronic wearable could stop bacteria from doing a number on us through our skin.

The discovery comes from researchers at the University of Chicago and the University of California, San Diego. One work published in Device journal this weekthe team detailed how the device decreases the activity of harmful genes in infectious bacteria and limits their growth.

The study was successfully carried out using a bacteria called Staphylococcus epidermidis on pigskin. This is a common bacteria known to cause hospital-acquired infections. If it can safely target different types of bacteria, we could be looking at a new drug-free treatment for bacterial infections that doesn’t give a damn about their antibiotic resistance.

Through their study, the researchers discovered that some bacteria were “selective” to the environment in which they exhibit excitability, that is, reactive to an external stimulus. They found that Staphylococcus epidermidis became electrically excitable under healthy skin, which is an acidic environment.

Armed with this knowledge, they began demonstrating their findings with the bacteria on pig skin, using a flexible patch they called Bioelectronic Localized Antimicrobial Stimulation Therapy, or—wait for it—BLAST. They also created an acidic environment on the skin using a hydrogel.

University of Chicago/University of California San Diego

Sending a weak electrical signal of 1.5 volts – much lower than the 15-volt safety limit for humans – for 10 seconds every 10 minutes for 18 hours through the patch stopped 99% of the group of bacteria forming for block medications and cause infections. They were also almost 10 times less S. epidermidis cells on the treated skin sample compared to the untreated sample after the 18-hour cycle.

This could be a big win for treating infections for several other reasons. As well as working on antibiotic-resistant bacteria, it could negate the need for antibiotics for certain types of infections – meaning it could be deployed in remote areas where drugs are difficult to administer regularly. Additionally, the small patch allows for targeted treatment on a small area of ​​skin, which could reduce the chance of potential side effects.

As you would expect, there is still a lot to do in this area. “Discovering this selective excitability will help us discover how to control other species of bacteria by analyzing different conditions,” said first author Saehyun Kim of the University of Chicago.

Co-lead author Bozhi Tian, ​​also from the University of Chicago, explained that there is an opportunity to develop a patch with a wireless circuit to control infections without drugs and to further examine the effectiveness of this treatment.

According to the World Health Organization, bacterial resistance to antibiotics has been directly responsible for 1.27 million deaths worldwide in 2019. This means that this treatment could help prevent serious conditions resulting from antibiotic-resistant bacteria and save lives in the process.

Source: University of Chicago Department of Chemistry