Scientists at Queen’s University in Belfast have recently discovered new agents to fight the MRSA “Super Bug” and other similar hospital acquired infections that are resisting more and more antibiotics. The fluids are a class of ionic liquids that kill colonies of these dangerous microbes, which in turn inhibits their growth.

If you have read our other articles you know that MRSA bacteria exist in colonies that stick to the surface of matter. Once bonded the colony will protect itself with a thin bio film layer which blocks out antiseptics,disinfectants, and antibiotics. The new agents were designed with this in mind.

Eight researchers from the Queen’s University Ionic Liquid Laboratories (QUILL) Research Center led by Brendan Gilmore began the task of developing this new class of agents, and their recent discover was published in “Green Chemistry” a scientific journal popular in “those” circles.

“We have shown that when pitted against the ionic liquids we developed and tested, biofilms offer little or no protection to MRSA, or to seven other infectious microorganisms.” -Earl Said

These Ionic liquids, are very similar to table salt. Yes the same salt you put on your food. They consists entirely of electrically charged atoms or clusters of atoms. These are known as ions. The difference is the temperature at which the ionic liquid becomes a liquid. Table salt must be heated to over 800 degrees Celsius, where the new agents are liquid at room temperature.

As you can imagine this is indeed an amazing discovery. To create such a liquid and with minimum toxicity to humans is very impressive indeed.

Earle was also quoted “Our goal is to design ionic liquids with the lowest possible toxicity to humans while wiping out colonies of bacteria that cause hospital acquired infections.”

Other Applications

Not only are biofilms an issue for MRSA victims and in hospitals, but there are commercial applications here as well. The same problem that causes water clogs in you houshold and in industrial plants may be alleviated by the University’s discovery.
“Ionic liquid based antibiofilm agents could potentially be used for a multitude of medical and industrial applications. For example, they could be used to improve infection control and reduce patient morbidity in hospitals and therefore lighten the financial burden to healthcare providers. They could also be harnessed to improve industrial productivity by reducing biofouling and microbial-induced corrosion of processing systems.” Gilmore Said

The paper “Antibiofilm activities of 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ionic liquids” by L. Carson, P.K.W. Chau, M.J. Earle, M.A. Gilea, B.F. Gilmore, S.P. Gorman, M.T. McCann and K.R. Seddon, is published online: Green Chem., 2009, DOI: 10.1039/b821842k.

Queen’s University
http://www.qub.ac.uk