Black phosphorus nanoflakes show antibacterial potential

The innovation has undergone advanced pre-clinical trials and is said to be effective against a range of drug-resistant bacterial cells, including ‘golden staph’.

The new study led by RMIT University and the University of South Australia (UniSA) tested black phosphorus-based nanotechnology as an advanced infection treatment and wound healing therapeutic.

Results published in Advanced Therapeutics show it effectively treated infections, killing over 99 per cent of bacteria, without damaging other cells in biological models.

The treatment achieved comparable results to an antibiotic in eliminating infection and accelerated healing, with wounds closing by 80 per cent over seven days.

RMIT has sought patent protection for the black phosphorus flakes including its use in wound healing formulations, including gels.

RMIT co-lead researcher, Professor Sumeet Walia, said the study showed how their innovation provided rapid antimicrobial action, then self-decomposed after the threat of infection had been eliminated.

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“The beauty of our innovation is that it is not simply a coating – it can actually be integrated into common materials that devices are made of, as well as plastic and gels, to make them antimicrobial,” said Prof Walia from RMIT’s School of Engineering.