HKU Invents Antibacterial Nano-Sheet Treatment for MRSA Bone Marrow Infection With 99.72 Percent Effectiveness

The University of Hong Kong School of Medicine has developed a two-dimensional sensitizer nano-sheet that can eliminate MRSA bone marrow infection. Courtesy of University of Hong Kong

The School of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong (HKU) has invented two-dimensional novel antibacterial nano-sheets which can eliminate more than 99.72 percent of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in bone tissue.

The study results have been published in Advanced Materials.

MRSA is a common pathogenic bacteria of bone tissue infection (osteomyelitis). In severe patients, the bacteria may lead to amputation or sepsis.

Since the bacterial membrane has been formed in the infection site of the deep bone tissue, the treatment of injecting antibiotics and non-invasive surgery is often ineffective. Excessive use of antibiotics will also damage the innate immune function, and may also induce the emergence of more drug-resistant pathogens.

Light-induced antibacterial phototherapy treatment has also failed to prevent deep tissue penetration effectively.

The new two-dimensional ultrasound-responsive antibacterial nano-sheet Ti₃C2-SD, developed by Professor Yeung Wai Kwok and his team, contains many two-dimension catalytic surfaces.

Using neutrophil membrane (NM) surface modification technology, NM-Nami tablets can actively capture and effectively eliminate more than 99.72% of MRSA bacteria in deep bone tissue in trial rats.

Additionally, when bone tissue infection is controlled, NM-nano-sheets can reduce inflammation and help repair bone tissue. The medical team did not discover any obvious biosafety risks to the nanochip.

Yeung said he would consider applying the new, non-invasive, and antibiotic-free technology to treat postoperative bacterial infections commonly seen in bone cancer patients or patients with cystitis or peritonitis in the future.