Quantum Dots Make the Leap from TVs to Antibacterial Eye Drops

  • News
  • 1.2K

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

0 out of 5 stars(0 ratings)
Research Stash Weekly Review #43

Research Stash Weekly Review #43

Weekly Review #43 – Summary of the latest news In science and technology research across the world, carefully handpicked by team Research Stash

Read more
Technique Developed to Produce Graphene from Discarded Dry Cell Batteries

Technique Developed to Produce Graphene from Discarded Dry Cell Batteries

A group of researchers at Nagpur-based Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology have developed a new technique which promises to help produce high-value graphene from discarded dry cells batteries.

  • News
  • 2.5K
Read more
Researchers Identify Missing Element in Monsoon Forecast Model

Researchers Identify Missing Element in Monsoon Forecast Model

A group of researchers has identified a missing element that is critical in the forecast of rainfall over central parts of India during the summer monsoon

  • News
  • 2.2K
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