Quantum Dots Make the Leap from TVs to Antibacterial Eye Drops

  • Research Stash
  • News
  • 1.5K

Quick Overview

Quantum dots are transforming electronic displays on TVs and tablets. But now, one group reports in ACS Nano that these tiny structures may someday provide relief for eye infections resulting from contact lens wear, trauma or some types of surgeries.

eye-1132531_1920

Every year, roughly 1 million people in the U.S. develop an eye infection known as bacterial keratitis, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The infection causes the cornea to become inflamed, and if left untreated, can lead to vision loss. Current treatments include steroid drops, but these medications can lead to scarring of the cornea. Researchers have turned to antibacterial nanomaterials to treat this infection, but some of these substances are toxic to human cells, too. So, Jui-Yang Lai, Chih-Ching Huang, and colleagues wanted to develop a new treatment that would be easy to make, while also being non-toxic.

The researchers developed a one-step method to make carbon quantum dots by heating spermidine, a compound that can boost the effectiveness of antibiotics. The result was a spermidine-coated quantum dot that could kill various bacterial strains, including those that are resistant to multiple drugs, in laboratory animals. The materials disrupted bacterial cells while leaving animal cells alone. The team says that the new quantum dots are a potential alternative to conventional bacterial keratitis eye drop treatments.

The authors acknowledge funding from the Ministry of Science and Technology of Taiwan and the Chang Gung Memorial Hospital.

Source: American Chemical Society
Journal Reference:
Hong-Jyuan Jian, Ren-Siang Wu, Tzu-Yu Lin, Yu-Jia Li, Han-Jia Lin, Scott G. Harroun, Jui-Yang Lai, Chih-Ching Huang. Super-Cationic Carbon Quantum Dots Synthesized from Spermidine as an Eye Drop Formulation for Topical Treatment of Bacterial KeratitisACS Nano, 2017; DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.7b01023

Rate

The researchers developed a one-step method to make carbon quantum dots by heating spermidine, a compound that can boost the effectiveness of antibiotics. The result was a spermidine-coated quantum dot that could kill various bacterial strains, including those that are resistant to multiple drugs, in laboratory animals. The materials disrupted bacterial cells while leaving animal cells alone. The team says that the new quantum dots are a potential alternative to conventional bacterial keratitis eye drop treatments.

The authors acknowledge funding from the Ministry of Science and Technology of Taiwan and the Chang Gung Memorial Hospital.

Source: American Chemical Society
Journal Reference:
Hong-Jyuan Jian, Ren-Siang Wu, Tzu-Yu Lin, Yu-Jia Li, Han-Jia Lin, Scott G. Harroun, Jui-Yang Lai, Chih-Ching Huang. Super-Cationic Carbon Quantum Dots Synthesized from Spermidine as an Eye Drop Formulation for Topical Treatment of Bacterial KeratitisACS Nano, 2017; DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.7b01023
" }

Antibody targeting IL-17B/RB proved effective for pancreatic cancer

Of all battles against cancer, when it comes to the therapeutics for pancreatic cancer, more than ever, it is too little and too late. That is why, when Dr. Wen-Hwa Lee’s team developed an antibody and proved that it can extend the life of lab mice to twice longer than its compared group, the participating scientists are excited, for they have pushed the milestone one step further in finding the therapeutics for pancreatic cancer patients

  • News
  • 1.9K
Read more
Evidence of Pre-Modern Iron Technology Found in Nagaland

Evidence of Pre-Modern Iron Technology Found in Nagaland

Scientists from Nagaland University and the Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati have studied the history and evolution of smelting in Wui village of Tuensang district of Nagaland. The village is well known for its traditional art of iron-smelting and iron tool production since pre-colonial times.

  • News
  • 1.6K
Read more
CSIR and BHEL Join Hands for Commercialization of Indigenous Technologies

CSIR and BHEL Join Hands for Commercialization of Indigenous Technologies

CSIR and BHEL have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to cooperate, collaborate and pursue industrial application-oriented research programs and its commercialization on large scale

  • News
  • 1.5K
Read more

Internet is huge! Help us find great content

Newsletter

Never miss a thing! Sign up for our newsletter to stay updated.

About

Research Stash is a curated collection of tools and News for S.T.E.M researchers

Have any questions or want to partner with us? Reach us at hello@researchstash.com

Navigation

Submit