An Australian physicist and other researchers made an unexpected discovery while trying to find an effective treatment for diabetic foot ulcers, because diabetic foot ulcers are notoriously resistant to antibiotics.
A formula for the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers developed by scientists from the University of South Australia and Professor Rob Short from Lancaster University and British colleagues from the University of Bath, GAMA Healthcare and AGA Nanotech can also be used to kill the COVID-19 virus in Spread in the air-conditioning system.
"By combining the cold plasma gas with acetyl donor molecules to improve its oxidation, we found that it completely killed the bacteria found in chronic wounds," said lead researcher and UniSA physicist Dr. Endre Szili. The researchers then investigated whether this same technique can effectively kill the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which seems to be the case.
"We show that based on a standard dose that is safe for human cells, using plasma combined with acetyl donor molecules, we can reduce the viral load by 84%. However, with some modifications, we are likely to eradicate it completely," said Dr. Szili.
The proprietary acetyl donor technology is owned by AGA Nanotech, a technology company headquartered in the United Kingdom focused on overcoming the growing problem of antimicrobial resistance. This solution has not been tested on variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
Dr. Szili said that the technology can be used to disinfect the surfaces of hospitals and other buildings, as well as through air-conditioning systems.
For diabetic patients, these findings are also significant, and are expected to end the chronic foot wounds that affect approximately 15% of the 415 million diabetic patients worldwide. Diabetes is the fastest growing chronic health condition in the world, costing nearly 700 billion U.S. dollars each year.
"Foot ulcers are a huge problem for diabetic patients. Antibiotics are usually the first-line treatment, but bacteria are becoming more resistant to antibiotics and we need a new solution," said Dr. Szili.
Cold plasma is usually effective for targeting free-swimming bacteria, but when enough bacteria colonize the wound and form a biofilm, they are more resistant to treatment. Combining plasma with acetyl donor molecules (ADM) produces hydrogen peroxide and releases peracetic acid, thereby killing drug-resistant bacteria through a multi-pronged action.
Researchers compared treatment options for two different types of bacteria: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which causes infections in the blood, lungs and other parts of the body after surgery; and Staphylococcus aureus, commonly referred to as "Staphylococcus aureus." , Can cause blood poisoning and pneumonia, and may be fatal.
The technique of using plasma without ADM killed the first bacteria, but had little effect on Staphylococcus aureus. The combination therapy eliminated these two bacteria.
Dr. Szili said that this formula can be made into creams or gels, aerosols or wound dressings. The latter option is currently being tested by Professor Rob Fitridge, a vascular surgeon at the Royal Adelaide Hospital and Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
Dr. Szili said: "We urgently need an antibiotic-free solution to solve the global escalation of antimicrobial resistance. We believe that we have taken an important first step through this new strategy."
Image source: ©stock.adobe.com/au/alphaspirit
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