Band-aid that automatically releases antibiotics in response to bacteria

A research team from the Chinese Academy of Sciences developed a band-aid that automatically releases antibiotics as the color changes in response to bacteria. This research paper was published in ACS Central Science on January 29, 2020.

The band-aid is made of paper, not fabric, so a special substance that releases antibiotics while responding to bacteria is attached to the surface. It is usually green, but turns yellow when bacteria penetrate the area. It is a structure that changes color in response to the bacteria acidifying the site. When the color changes, antibiotics are released to treat the affected area.

When resistant bacteria that do not work with antibiotics penetrate, they turn red in response to a special enzyme secreted by the resistant bacteria. Even in this case, antibiotics that are effective against resistant bacteria are released. In addition, when a band-aid that has turned red is exposed to a specific wavelength of light, it secretes a special enzyme that weakens the bacteria’s power to promote early treatment.

In this study, it was said that the antibiotic effect was tested in both E. coli and drug-resistant E. coli to distinguish and treat actual cases. Although there has been a band-aid that changes color in response to bacteria or a smart band-aid that is administered according to the condition of the wound, the most innovative point of this band-aid is that it can detect resistant bacteria.

Usually, detection of resistant bacteria takes a long time and leads to delays in treatment. In addition, there is a risk of increasing resistance by administering general antibiotics without specifying the bacteria. However, with this plaster, it is possible to know whether or not resistant bacteria are resistant to the naked eye without using special equipment, and to perform initial treatment automatically. Recently, the increase in resistant bacteria has become a problem in the medical field. If the band-aid developed this time is put into practice, it may be of great help to medical personnel. Related information can be found here .