A polymer is developed that kills antibiotic-resistant bacteria
Last reviewed: 16.10.2021
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The problem of bacteria and antibiotics has existed for a long time and the only way to combat pathogens is to develop new types of antibiotics. But after a while, sometimes even very short, after the appearance of a new antibiotic, it sharply begins to lose its effectiveness due to the fact that the bacteria mutate and become unresponsive to its effects. More recently, researchers at IBM Research have discovered a new method for combating pathogens that does not require the use of antibiotics and can even kill extremely hardy bacteria, such as bacteria of the type methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). It is interesting that this method has become a side effect of the development of new semiconductor manufacturing technologies.
Scientist chemists from IBM Research in Almaden, California, have been working on developing a new method for etching microscopic structures on silicon substrates, which can provide higher accuracy than the technologies currently used in the electronics industry. In the course of their research, they developed new materials whose particles, with an electrical potential, are grouped together and form polymers that protect the surface of silicon from the etching agent.
After the sought-for materials were found and the technology worked properly, the researchers conducted additional studies to find out whether these materials can not be used elsewhere. As a result, what has come to be known as a polymer killer. When particles of such material are introduced into a liquid medium, into water or blood, they self-assemble into biocompatible nanostructures, which, due to electrostatic forces, are attracted to infected cells having their own potential. When the infected cell is reached, the polymer penetrates into it, affects the pathogenic microorganism and decomposes, leaving harmless substances behind it. According to available information, this method of combating infectious diseases has no side effects, and no harmful substances are accumulating in the body.
"The mechanism of operation of these killer polymers differs radically from the mechanism of action of the antibiotic," says Jim Hedrick, a chemist from IBM Research. "The effect of the polymer is more like the action of the body's immune system: the polymer destabilizes the membrane of the microorganism, which then simply disintegrates, and the decay products of the polymer and microorganism are naturally removed from it, and microorganisms have no chance of developing resistance to this method of exposure."
In addition to fighting pathogens right inside the human body, new polymer materials will find wide application where sterility and obstructing the growth of any microorganism are required. This is the manufacture of various kinds of scapula and scrapers for food, packaging and replacement of not very useful antibacterial agents in things such as toothpaste and mouthwash, for example.
Currently, IBM Research researchers are working to further develop technology to combat pathogens with the help of polymer material and are looking for a partner company that will commercialize this technology.
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