Key Points:
- Researchers say gallium in its liquid state is a promising candidate as an antimicrobial agent.
- The team developed a gallium-based coating for bandages and medical devices that can resist antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
- Tests showed that the material has improved biocompatibility and low cytotoxicity to cells.
An international team of scientists has developed a metallic coating treatment for bandages, medical devices and even drug nanoparticles that is capable of resisting and killing bacteria. The new approach relies on gallium in its liquid state—or GaLM.
“Gallium in its liquid state is one of the most promising candidates to be used as an antimicrobial agent, and can be used in many ways as a liquid metal,” said Flinders University researcher Vi Khanh Truong, lead author of the new article in ACS Nano.
The liquid state of GaLM enables it to be easily combined with other components to create various forms of more efficient antimicrobial metals.
In contrast to solid-state particles, GaLM particles can dramatically transform their configurations in response to external stimuli. They can also transform their shape around and inside cells. In their liquid state, GaLMs can dissolve and sequester metallic elements that can later be released on demand via stimuli. This is especially useful for improving the efficiency of the release of drugs.
According to the study results, gallium appears to be compatible with human cells in preparations and concentrations relevant to its antimicrobial activity, meaning the treatment could one day be administered orally or intravenous injection.
Additionally, compared with solid metals, GaLMs appear to be benign for eukaryotes—indicating biocompatibility with human tissue—while retaining potent antimicrobial activity.
“GaLMs antimicrobial performance would be activated by external stimuli (light, magnetic fields, and heat as well as others), resulting in novel solutions that can outperform antimicrobial mono-metallic nanoparticles and may lead to the next generation of antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory metal-based agents,” said Truong.