Scientists have designed a new bandage that releases medication when it detects the heat of an infection.
As we all know antibiotics effectively treat infected wounds but we should think before using these. Moreover, overuse of some antibiotics can also result in the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Now scientists at Switzerland’s Empa research center have developed a new wonder material. This material has a positive membrane of nanofibers. There is an antiseptic, octenidine dihydrochloride, encapsulated inside these fibers.
These polymer fibers soften once the environment heats up because of an infection. Then only this bandage release antimicrobial drugs.
When the skin temperature varies from 32 to 34 ºC (89 to 93 ºF), the polymer mix stays strong, medicine remains trapped inside. Once the wound floor temperature increases because of infection-related irritation, the polymer transitions to a softer state. As a result, the bacteria-killing octenidine is released into the contaminated tissue.
This way dressing would be “loaded” with drugs and will react to environmental stimuli. Team leader Fei Pan explained, “In this way, wounds could be treated as needed at exactly the right moment,”
