Infection, kill thyself

Currently, patients that have wounds that require dressings are prone to infection, and the methods of treating them are imperfect. One common method of infection treatment utilizes silver, but this has the potential to kill human cells or cull the bacteria into a stronger population. Scientists have impregnated bandages with capsules of antibacterial agents. Bacteria that secrete toxins dissolve the capsules and release the antibiotics. There are a coulpe of potential problems with this approach; only cells that release toxins will dissolve the capsules and the agent inside the capsules is also pontially harmful to human cells.

I find this interesting because it one potential approach to specific drug delivery. As the research into this concept progresses further, I could foresee varied types of capsules designed to be dissolved by different types, ranging anywhere from a specific type of bacteria or possibly even a specific type of cancer cell.

http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/58697/title/Infection%2C_kill_thyselfv