A new bioelectronic patch can inhibit bacterial growth using mild electrical impulses. Designed to combat infections caused by drug-resistant bacteria, this device could reduce or eliminate the need for antibiotics. Researchers at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), have developed this innovative technology, which may offer a promising alternative in fighting antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
By John Adams
A New Approach to Antibiotic Resistance
Global health organizations warn of the rising threat posed by antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which currently cause millions of deaths annually. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), deaths due to antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) infections are expected to rise sharply by 2050. In response, scientists at UCSD created a bioelectronic device that can target resistant bacteria through electrical stimulation, potentially replacing antibiotic treatments. Published in the journal Device, the study describes how this patch delivers targeted electric pulses to combat pathogens without requiring drugs.
How Electric Pulses Affect Bacterial Growth
The patch’s gentle electric pulses work by disrupting the natural electrical activity of bacteria, including strains like Staphylococcus epidermidis, which can lead to severe infections. By altering the skin’s pH levels, these impulses reduce the bacteria’s ability to form biofilms—thick clusters of bacteria that are notoriously difficult to treat. Biofilms protect bacteria, enabling them to thrive and spread even in hostile environments, but the patch effectively disrupts their formation. This process weakens the bacteria’s defense and lowers the chance of severe infections.
Advantages Over Traditional Antibiotics
The bioelectronic patch offers several notable benefits compared to traditional antibiotic treatments. Most importantly, it targets bacteria that have developed resistance to conventional antibiotics, reducing the reliance on last-resort drugs and slowing the spread of new drug-resistant strains. Additionally, the electric pulses inhibit bacterial growth without causing the side effects often associated with antibiotics. By blocking harmful bacterial activity at the genetic level, this device presents a focused, safe solution.
Promising Results in Early Testing
In preclinical trials, the patch reduced bacterial colonization on pig skin by ten times, showing promising results in combating bacterial infections. UCSD researchers discovered electrical responses in bacterial biofilms nearly a decade ago, paving the way for today’s patch technology. This patch, designed to be flexible and easy to apply, could be used for chronic wounds or around medical implants where bacterial infections are particularly challenging to manage. The researchers anticipate that the device will soon enter human clinical trials to further test its effectiveness.
This breakthrough technology demonstrates how bioelectronic devices may reshape treatment options for patients with drug-resistant infections.
Based on information from www.forschung-und-wissen.de and own research.