Nature's own antibiotics used to prevent infection during surgery
15 years, 1 month ago
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Posted on Jan 30, 2009, 10 a.m.
Researchers have discovered that a synthetic form of a peptide can be coated on the surfaces of such medical devices as surgical implants, catheters, and joint prostheses to prevent infection and rejection.
A study by researchers at the University of British Columbia, which was just released in the journal Chemistry and Biology, found that a mimic of one of “nature's antibiotics” –short tethered cationic antimicrobial peptides – can protect surfaces of medical devices by killing germs that come in contact with the device. These peptides, which are found on the skin and mucosal surfaces, as well as in tears, sweat and blood of all humans and animals, have a unique characteristic that naturally protect the organism against microbial infections. Specifically, they are active when attached to surfaces, and when the bacteria comes into contact with the peptides, it loses its integrity and eliminates itself.