A new treatment for wounds in the form of a hydrogel dressing is claimed to eliminate antibiotic-resistant bacteria and boost the body’s natural immune system. 
The hydrogel contains no antibiotics and yet is able to destroy antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Even better, it boosts the immune system of the person using it! This miracle product is a hydrogel whose main function is to heal wounds. The hydrogel is made of dendritic macromolecules, which are high molecular weight polymers with unusual shapes and special properties.
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Effective in killing Staphylococcus aureus Pseudomonas aeruginosa
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According to the authors of the study, the hydrogel they have developed is fully biodegradable and non-toxic. When sprayed on the wound, it forms a flexible dressing that adheres to the wound. Its composition keeps the skin moist, which promotes better healing. Another advantage of this product is its ability to eliminate various antibiotic-resistant bacteria and reduce wound inflammation. To develop the hydrogel, the researchers tested it on a number of infectious bacteria, such as Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a microorganism that causes acute and chronic infections, some of which are serious and fatal. Result: the hydrogel completely eliminated Staphylococcus aureus (100% efficacy) and almost as much Pseudomonas aeruginosa. According to these tests, the hydrogel is more effective at killing staphylococci than any other commercially available hydrogel dressing.
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The bacteria do not become resistant to the hydrogel
During the trials, the researchers found that the hydrogel did more than kill bacteria. It also allowed antimicrobial peptides – or endogenous antibiotics – that are naturally present in human skin cells to work better. Antimicrobial peptides are defense molecules produced primarily by the human body. “These endogenous antibiotics help to fight bacteria and eliminate infection,” explains Annelie Brauner, one of the study’s authors. Unlike traditional antibiotics, to which bacteria can quickly develop resistance, resistance to antimicrobial peptides is very rare. Therefore, there is interest in their use because more and more bacteria are becoming resistant to antibiotics, a phenomenon known as antibiotic resistance.
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Final thoughts
The main cause of antibiotic resistance is the overuse of antibiotics. Bacteria, which are frequently exposed to them, evolve and develop defense mechanisms, and as a result, antibiotics are no longer effective against these bacteria. This is true for both pathogenic and harmless bacteria present in the environment. Resistance in one bacterial species can spread to others. Today, this phenomenon even gives rise to new infections, sometimes leading to increased mortality. This new hydrogel is an extraordinary contribution to the fight against multidrug-resistant bacteria, especially at a time when we are faced with a shortage of available antibiotics. Most importantly this gel could help many diabetics treat their wounds and avoid amputations.
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