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Resilin-Inspired Coating Achieves 100% Bacterial Repulsion in Lab Tests

The team plans to validate coating stability through broader pathogen testing before advancing toward clinical trials.

A surface coating mimicking a super-elastic insect protein repelled 100% of bacteria
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Overview

  • Researchers at RMIT University and partner institutes created nano-droplet coatings from resilin-mimetic proteins that fully blocked E. coli attachment in laboratory conditions.
  • The coating disrupts bacterial cell membranes via electrostatic interactions, causing leakage of cellular contents without harming human cells.
  • Its mechanical mode of action offers a route to prevent antibiotic resistance associated with traditional drugs.
  • Potential applications include spray-on barriers for medical implants, surgical tools, catheters and wound dressings to reduce infection rates.
  • Next steps involve assessing effectiveness against additional bacterial strains and confirming long-term stability and scalability for clinical use.