The rise of antibiotic-resistant pathogenic strains of bacteria has underscored the need to prevent overuse of bactericidal drugs and has spurred a search for new, more effective pharmaceutical weapons. Envisioning a Golden Staph bacteria before (left) and after (right) exposure to the magnetic liquid metal nanoparticles. In the images, magnified 70,000 times, sharp pieces of liquid metal particle can be seen physically disrupting the bacteria after treatment. Source: RMITpost-antibiotic future, researchers at Australia’s Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) have devised a physical mode of microbial attack based on liquid metal particles.

Gallium-based liquid metal droplets were demonstrated to function as antibacterial materials. When exposed to a low-intensity rotating magnetic field, these droplets change shape and form edges sufficiently sharp to puncture cell walls and biofilms. Both Gram-positive and Gram-negative biofilms were destroyed after 90 minutes of exposure to the magneto-responsive droplets in the laboratory. Over 99% of both bacterial species became nonviable with no detrimental impact to human cells documented.

The material could improve the sterility of medical instruments and implants if applied as a spray coating, and might find use as an injectable treatment at the site of infections. Longer term, expanded applications for the technology might include its use as an antifungal agent or as a treatment for cancer and cholesterol plaques.