New medical implants are killing bacteria with tiny zaps of electricity instead of relying on antibiotics.
To fight the rise of drug-resistant superbugs, researchers created a coating that generates its own electrical charge when it feels mechanical stress. This 'physics-based' approach destroys bacteria on contact without needing a single drop of traditional medicine.
Construction of bioaffinity antibacterial coatings via piezoelectric effect-enhanced alkaline microenvironment
SSRN · 6549773
The inherent antibacterial properties of titanium and its alloys are limited and cannot meet the antibacterial requirements of clinical implants. Traditional antibacterial methods, such as the release of heavy metal ions and the use of antibiotics, have potential side effects and the risk of inducing bacterial resistance. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop an antibacterial coating for titanium surfaces that also has biocompatibility. In this study, a magnesium oxide composite piezoele