Scientists created stainless steel that kills bacteria without antibiotics

Scientists at the Georgia Institute of Technology created stainless steel that kills bacteria without using antibiotics or chemicals. They used an electrochemical method that provides fresh defense against bacterial illness without adding antibiotics.

Stainless steel is an alloy widely used in various medical devices, shared spaces, and food and beverage fields. This ally may become infected due to bacterial adhesion that increases the risk of sickness, death, and high medical expenses.

Hence, the scientists team from Georgia Tech focused on making stainless steel to kill bacteria without additional chemicals. A postdoctoral researcher, Anuja Tripathi, is the lead author of this research study who developed a new method to make stainless steel surfaces antibacterial.

*Spiky stainless steel and copper coating surface to kill harmful bacteria*

Anuja and her fellows used a specific electrochemical method to create tiny, needle-like patterns on the stainless steel surface and then added copper ions to its surface. This combination helps kill harmful bacteria like Staphylococcus and E.coli.

Lead study author Anuja said Gram-negative bacteria show a significant challenge due to their thick, multilayered cell membrane. Killing Gram-positive bacteria without chemicals is relatively easy. Furthermore, these bacteria can multiply if they stay on surfaces.

So, Anuja said her goal was to create a bactericidal surface that is effective against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria without antibiotic use.

Following this goal, lead author Anuja and her fellows Julie Champion, William R. McLain Professor, and Thomas Pho developed an electrochemical method to etch stainless steel. It resulted in nanoscale needle-like features on the surface that could break bacterial cell membranes.

Afterward, they applied copper ions to the steel’s surface. It gradually weakened cell membranes through its interactions with bacteria.

*This modified stainless steel could kill bacteria without antibiotics or chemicals*

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Anjuna stated this nanotextured stainless steel can kill both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. They observed significant antibacterial activity due to the nanotextured stainless steel’s copper coating.

This new electrochemical method of stainless steel created by Georgia Tech scientists provides a new way to protect against bacterial infections without relying on antibiotics, which helps avoid the problem of antibiotic resistance.

This method is also affordable and can be used in places, kitchens, and hospitals to reduce the need for chemicals and medications to prevent serious illness caused by bacterial-contaminated surfaces.