Swedish scientists develop new peptide hydrogel that significantly improves antibiotics' ability to fight drug-resistant bacteria

A breakthrough study from Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden has revealed a new peptide hydrogel material that, when used in combination with antibiotics, can significantly enhance the effectiveness of antibiotics against drug-resistant bacteria. The laboratory study showed that when antibiotics were combined with this peptide hydrogel, their bactericidal effect could be increased by up to 64 times, and the antibacterial properties of the peptide hydrogel were also significantly enhanced.

The peptide hydrogel material is designed for medical applications and has been shown over the years to be effective in killing a wide range of bacteria, including drug-resistant bacteria. The material is made of a special hydrogel containing antimicrobial peptides, which are components of proteins with strong antimicrobial properties.

In clinical applications, researchers must ensure that peptide materials do not negatively affect the effectiveness of antibiotics. The results of the study showed that the combination of antibiotics and peptide hydrogels not only did not reduce the effect but also made the treatment more effective. The researchers also found that there was a synergistic effect between peptide materials and certain drug-resistant bacteria, making the antibacterial effects of the two not only superimposed but also greatly enhanced when used in combination. This finding has not been confirmed in previous studies.

"When the hydrogel particles come into close contact with bacteria, they are able to weaken the bacteria's defenses and make them more susceptible to antibiotics. In some cases, bacteria that were originally resistant to antibiotics can be effectively treated again," says Annija Stepulane, PhD student in applied chemistry at Chalmers and first author of the study.

In the experiment, the peptide material was combined with two different antibiotics (oxacillin and vancomycin) and tested against two types of Staphylococcus aureus (including MRSA, which is resistant to multiple antibiotics). The results showed that, especially when combined with oxacillin, the peptide material was able to reduce the effective concentration of the antibiotic by 64 times, far below the threshold at which bacteria are considered resistant to the drug.

In addition, after the peptide material is attached to the hydrogel, its stability is enhanced and its activity can be maintained for a longer time. Researchers at Chalmers University have previously demonstrated that the bactericidal activity of the hydrogel can last for several days, while the bactericidal activity of the peptide solution can only last for a few hours.

"This peptide-based material can be applied topically, is non-toxic, and does not cause any adverse side effects," said Martin Andersson, professor of applied chemistry at Chalmers University and head of the study. The hydrogel can also be made into spray particles to improve the safety and effectiveness of antibiotic treatment, especially in wound treatment.

The discovery of this material provides a new way to inhibit infection and reduce the risk of complications. Martin Andersson further pointed out: "This material can be used in medical settings or at home, similar to a Band-Aid, especially in areas with a high incidence of drug-resistant infections, such as certain parts of Africa and Asia."

Antimicrobial peptides occur naturally in the human body and their bactericidal properties are well known. Bacterial cell death occurs because the antimicrobial peptides disrupt the cell membrane, primarily through the interaction between the positive charges in the antimicrobial peptides and the negative charges in the bacterial membrane. The current study is the first to demonstrate the efficacy of peptides bound to a material, making it stable enough for clinical applications.

The research on the antimicrobial material is carried out in close cooperation with the spin-off company Amferia, which is committed to commercializing the scientific research results of Chalmers University of Technology. This autumn, a wound care dressing containing hydrogel has been launched in eight different European countries for veterinary use. A wound care dressing for human use has been submitted for approval in the US market and is expected to be launched in the US within a year.

The paper "Antibacterial efficacy of antimicrobial peptide-functionalized hydrogel particles in combination with vancomycin and oxacillin antibiotics" has been published in the scientific journal International Journal of Pharmaceutics. The research was conducted by Annija Stepulane, Anand Kumar Rajasekharan, and Martin Andersson.