Antibiotic-resistant bacteria are an increasingly big problem for human health. They kill over 23,000 people in the US every year. This bacteria has an immunity to antibiotic treatments making them extremely difficult to eradicate. New research being conducted at the University of Colorado in Boulder has found that tiny light activated particles known as quantum dots can be useful in combating the infections.
Quantum dots are very small nanoparticles measuring some 20,000 times smaller than a human hair. By working on such a tiny scale, the researchers are able prompt specific interactions on a cellular level that only target the dangerous bacteria. Because they’re activated by light, researchers are able to tailor the particles to attack only the desired cells by altering the wavelength of the light.
Once the light source is removed, the dots become inactive.
The team believes this breakthrough will allow for the development of non-harmful clinical treatments that use nanoparticles to combat the resistant bacteria. The work is developing into a good start, with the researchers testing the method on lab-grown cultures. So far it was found to successfully kill 92 percent of drug-resistant bacterial cells. FDA approval will be required with trials in the near future.
“Antibiotics are not just a baseline treatment for bacterial infections, but HIV and cancer as well,” said senior study author Anushree Chatterjee. “Failure to develop effective treatments for drug-resistant strains is not an option, and that’s what this technology moves closer to solving.”
Another technology innovation in improving human health in the near future.
~ Bob Larson is a technologist, photo journalist, and Marketing Director for 50Plus Media Solutions.