Protection against wound infection by the effective wound dressing
A novel wound dressing itself is to kill resistant bacteria, a research team from Switzerland reported. The dressing consists of cellulose fibers, coated with antimicrobial peptides. In the context of the study, the Team showed how the Association itself fighting off resistant bacteria.
Researchers at the Swiss Federal laboratories for materials testing and research (Empa) presented recently a wound dressing, the bacterial infections can directly fight in the wound. The plant material produced by the Association is equipped with an anti-microbial protein components, the bacteria, is a very efficient kill. The Association was recently presented in the medical journal “Advanced Healthcare Materials”.
Antibiotics: The wonder weapon is slow to dull
Blood poisoning (Sepsis) is a common and dangerous complication of wounds. It occurs when germs enter the wound in the body. In recent years, problems with bacteria, such as staphylococci, in this context, more and more often, the resistance to antibiotics have. Such bacteria are difficult to combat and can be life-threatening. There are, therefore, urgently needs new ways to offer such resistance to the forehead.
Microscopic threads
At this point, the researchers put the ends of the Empa. They developed a wound dressing made of finely woven cellulose membranes, with which such infections can nip it in the Bud. The cellulose fibers are manufactured using the so-called Electrospinning. Here, threads are spun with a diameter of under one micrometer, to a three-dimensional tissue, which is made up of several layers. In order to make the fabric is particularly flexible and stable, is spun in addition, the Polymer is polyurethane with wrapped up.
Peptides provide anti-bacterial effect
To achieve a significant antibacterial effect of the coated to the researchers, the Association of material with specific protein components (peptides). These bind directly to the cellulose fibers and exhibit a strong antimicrobial activity. In addition, the peptides are produce according to the study, simply and convince with a long durability.
Association of killing 99.99 percent of germs
In addition, the researchers report that the cellulose Material for human skin cells is well tolerated. For bacteria, such as staphylococci, often in poorly healing wounds are found to be the peptides provided with the cellulose-associations, however, a death sentence. “In cultures of bacteria over 99.99 percent of the germs were killed by the peptide-containing membranes,” emphasises the research Director Katharina Maniura from the Study lab in St. Gallen.
Other functions in views
In the future, the function of such associations could be extended. “The peptides might, for example, the binding sites are functionalized, which will enable a controlled release of other therapeutic agents,” says Maniura. (vb)