BITS Pilani Hyd scientists develop smart wound dressing to kill infection-causing bacteria

The Hindu

6 days ago

An interdisciplinary team of scientists from BITS Pilani Hyderabad campus has developed a smart wound dressing capable of killing the infection-causing bacteria and also visually signalling the presence of infection — all without the use of traditional antibiotics.
The work has been published in ACS Infectious Diseases, a journal of the American Chemical Society, highlighting its promise in tackling one of the most pressing global health threats of our time—Anti-Microbial Resistance (AMR), said an official release on Monday.
The study has been authored by a team comprising Vaishnavi N., Ramakrishnan Ganesan, and Jayati Ray Dutta who have also developed a user-friendly colour analysis application for instant infection assessment by analysing a photograph of the dressing.
The scientists pointed out that infections at wound sites are often difficult to detect early, especially in chronic or deep wounds. Delayed diagnosis can lead to prolonged healing, the spread of infection, or even sepsis.
The newly developed wound dressing addresses this issue using a multi-layered design: base layer with antibiotic-free fibres functionalised with ionic silver to kill bacteria on contact. Over this, a hydrogel layer is embedded with an enzyme-specific colour-changing compound to serve as an infection sensor.
When bacteria colonise the wound, they release enzymes that migrate upward into the hydrogel layer, triggering a visible colour change — a signal that infection is present. 'Our dressing is designed to be proactive. It simultaneously kills bacteria and alerts clinicians or caregivers to the onset of infection. It does so without relying on antibiotics, which is key in the fight against drug-resistant bacteria,' said the scientists.
The technology functions without the need for complex equipment or laboratory processing, making it particularly well-suited for bedside care and home use. The research team envisions the dressing being further developed into commercial point-of-care products, including infection-responsive bandages or integrated wound monitoring strips.
Such products could revolutionise the way wounds are monitored and treated, especially for diabetic ulcers, post-surgical wounds, and burns. This work was supported by the Department of Science and Technology, the release added.