Researchers have developed a nano-floral bandage with antibiotic and anti-inflammatory properties that can kill bacteria and promote wound healing.
A carnation-like nanostructure could one day be used in bandages to promote wound healing. Researchers report in ACS Applied Bio Materials that laboratory tests of their nanoflower-coated bandages demonstrate antibiotic, anti-inflammatory and biocompatible properties.
They stated that these results indicate that the nanoflower ribbon sprouted from tannic acid and copper(II) phosphate is a promising candidate in the treatment of infections and inflammatory conditions.
The science behind nanoflowers
Nanoflowers are tiny, self-assembling structures. But their large surface area provides plenty of room for drug molecules to attach, making these flowers particularly well suited for drug delivery. For their bandage flowers, Fatemeh Ahmadpoor, Pier Francesco Ferrari and colleagues chose copper(II) phosphate and tannic acid because both reagents have antibiotic and anti-inflammatory properties.
After growing flowers in a saline solution, the researchers attached the bioinspired structures to strips of electrospun nanofiber fabric. In tests, the nanoflower-coated bandages inactivated a broad spectrum of cultured bacteria (including E. coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa , and Staphylococcus aureus ) and their antibiotic-resistant biofilms, scavenged reactive oxygen species , and did not harm lab-grown human cells.
Ahmadpoor and Ferrari say these nanoflower-coated bandages are a breakthrough in providing a natural, cost-effective and highly effective solution to combat infections and speed wound healing, potentially redefining treatment standards.
Featured article: “Self-assembled nanoflowers from natural building blocks with antioxidant, antibacterial and antibiofilm properties” by Fatemeh Ahmadpoor, Naeimeh Eghbalifam, Paolo Canepa, Domenico Palombo, Patrizia Perego, and Pier Francesco Ferrari, published January 6, 2025 in ACS Applied Bio
The authors would like to acknowledge funding from the Italian Ministry of Universities and Research.
