A laser-activated antimicrobial developed by researchers at University College London (UCL) offers a new alternative for an increasing problem: treatment of drug-resistant bacterial infections. Researcher Michael Wilson and his team are treating infected wounds using a dye, indocyanine green, which produces bacteria-killing chemicals when exposed to a specific wavelength of laser light. Their experiments show that the activated dye can kill a wide range of bacteria including Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The strength of this new approach lies in the variety of ways the chemicals produced by the activated dye harm bacteria. As Wilson explains, “The mechanism of killing is non-specific, with reactive oxygen species causing damage to many bacterial components, so resistance is unlikely to develop — even from repeated use.”The laser used by the researchers emits ‘near-infrared’ light, which is known to be capable of producing heat. However, “substantial killing of all of the bacteria tested was achieved without causing any temperature rise. ” In addition, the laser treatment “produces light that is more able to penetrate deep wounds, increasing the area cleansed.” Go to: Science Daily

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