Nanozymes for disinfection
Australian researchers from the Royal Melbourne University of Technology, working under the guidance of Professor Vipul Bansal, have developed artificial enzymes, or "nanozymes", which in the future can be used to combat pathogens resistant to traditional antibiotics, including E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus.
E. coli (Escherichia coli) can cause dysentery and gastroenteritis, and Staphylococcus aureus (Staphylococcus aureus) is the main cause of nosocomial infections, including those causing chronic infection of wounds.
For many years, the authors have been trying to create artificial enzymes that are not only able to destroy bacteria, but also allow controlling bacterial infections with the help of external stimuli. The resulting "nanozymes" (NanoZymes) consist of nanotubes based on copper oxide (CuO), the size of which is 1,000 times smaller than the thickness of a human hair. They trigger biochemical reactions that decompose hydrogen peroxide molecules with the formation of active OH+ radicals that effectively destroy bacteria. Under the influence of light acting as an external stimulus, the activity of these reactions increases by more than 20 times.
The resulting free radicals violate the integrity of the bacterial envelope, after which the bacteria die.
Three-dimensional image of bacteria that died under the action of nanozymes.
The authors believe that the new generation nanomaterial they have developed will help control the spread of infectious disease pathogens in healthcare institutions and public places. To do this, a solution containing nanozymes and hydrogen peroxide will be applied to the treated surfaces in the form of a spray.
In the future, it is also possible to produce powdered products based on nanosimes, which will be added to paints, ceramics and other materials to produce self-disinfecting walls and other surfaces. In addition, the new technology can be modified to produce antiseptics suitable for wound treatment.
Article by Md. Nurul Karim et al. Visible-Light-Triggered Reactive-Oxygen-Species-Mediated Antibacterial Activity of Peroxidase-Mimic CuO Nanorods is published in the journal ACS Applied Nano Materials.
Evgenia Ryabtseva, portal "Eternal Youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru based on the materials of RMIT University: New NanoZymes use light to kill bacteria.