Whenever we get small cuts or scuffs, we rely on applying a small band-aid to help the scar cure and not hurt during our day-to-day activities. But if not taken care of properly, it can result in bacterial infections that can do more harm.
When the scar is covered with a bandage, you can’t really look at the scar without peeling off the bandage, while also affecting the adhesive. However, now, researchers have created a different kind of bandage that changes colour depending on the health of the scar.
The bandage acts as a traffic signal and shows colours from green to yellow to red. Green means no bacteria or lower level of bacteria, which means everything is good.?
Yellow indicates that bacteria exists but it is sensitive to the drug on the bandage (DS) which tells that bacteria is acting up, but everything is under control. Red, on the other hand, indicates the bacteria is resistant to the drug and requires additional help to be completely eliminated (DR).?
In case of DR, doctors flash a beam of light that activates the release of highly reactive species of oxygen that fights with the bacteria build-up and weakens it, thus making it susceptible antibiotic present in the bandage.
Researchers tested this bandage on mice and was successfully able to cure DS and DR E.coli infections, using this application.
According to the researchers from the Chinese Academy of Science, "Sensing bacterial infections and monitoring drug resistance are very important for the selection of treatment options. However, the common methods of sensing resistance are limited by [time], the requirement for professional personnel, and expensive instruments. Moreover, the abuse of antibiotics causes the accelerated process of bacterial resistance.”
Researchers further added, "Compared with traditional PDT-based antibacterial strategies, our design can alleviate off-target side effects, maximise therapeutic efficacy, and track the drug resistance in real-time with the naked eye."?