Researchers have developed a new superbug-destroying coating that could be used on wound dressings and implants to prevent and treat potentially deadly bacterial and fungal infections.

Antibiotic resistance is a major global health threat, causing at least 700,000 deaths a year. Without the development of new antibacterial therapies, the death toll could rise to 10 million people a year by 2050, equating to $US100 trillion in health care costs.

While the health burden of fungal infections is less recognized, globally they kill about 1.5 million people each year and the death toll is growing. An emerging threat to hospitalized COVID-19 patients for example is the common fungus, Aspergillus, which can cause deadly secondary infections.

The new coating from a team led by RMIT University is based on an ultra-thin 2D material that until now has mainly been of interest for next-generation electronics.

Studies on black phosphorus (BP) have indicated it has some antibacterial and antifungal properties, but the material has never been methodically examined for potential clinical use.

The new research, published in the American Chemical Society’s journal Applied Materials & Interfaces, reveals that BP is effective at killing microbes when spread in nanothin layers on surfaces like titanium and cotton, used to make implants and wound dressings.

Co-lead researcher Dr. Aaron Elbourne said finding one material that could prevent both bacterial and fungal infections was a significant advance.

“These pathogens are responsible for massive health burdens and as drug-resistance continues to grow, our ability to treat these infections becomes increasingly difficult,” Elbourne, a Postdoctoral Fellow in the School of Science at RMIT, said.

“We need smart new weapons for the war on superbugs, which don’t contribute to the problem of antimicrobial resistance.

Image Credit:   RMIT University

Post by Amanda Scott, NA CEO.  Follow her on twitter @tantriclens

Thanks to Heinz V. Hoenen.  Follow him on twitter: @HeinzVHoenen