Serious burns are horrible enough when they happen, but complications that arise from opportunistic infections can be lethal, particularly in children with weak immune systems. Modern medicine doesn’t currently have a way to spot pathogens incubating within the wound, but researchers at University of Bath in the UK have embedded a fluorescent dye into special nanoparticles which were developed to break open when encountering toxic bacteria.
When used in a wound dressing the dye becomes apparent in the presence of unwanted bacteria, providing an easily seen indicator of unwanted activity within the healing tissue.
Here’s a video report about the new technology:
University of Bath: Revolutionary burns dressing could save young lives…