In the long history of mankind’s struggle with bacteria, there is a group of silent and dedicated “heroes” — antibacterial substances. In their own unique ways, in the microworld, they fight with bacteria to the death to protect our health and tranquillity. Today, let us walk into their legends.
First on the field is the family of antibiotics, which is an old antibacterial power brigade. Antibiotics have opened a new era of medical treatment since penicillin was discovered. They are like precise “bacterial killers” capable of carrying out deadly attacks on specific types of bacteria by inhibiting the synthesis of bacterial cell walls, interfering with the production of proteins or destroying the reproduction of bacteria’ DNA. For example, penicillin, which is primarily aimed at the Geran positive bacteria, causes bacteria to break down under osmosis by preventing the formation of bacterial cells. For more than a century, antibiotics have saved countless lives, and infectious diseases such as pneumonia and tuberculosis have been effectively controlled. However, with the widespread use of antibiotics and the gradual evolution of resistance of bacteria, this “superbacterial” problem has become a major global health challenge.
Unlike antibiotics, antibacterium is a natural antibacterial substance that is widely present in organisms, from insects to mammals. Antibacterium is like a “one-size-fits-all key” that has a wide spectrum of antibacterial activity, which can inhibit or kill the Grancian positives, the Grancian cactus, fungi and even viruses. Its antibacterial mechanisms are unique and sophisticated, and they can be rapidly attached to the bacteria’ cellular membranes, leading to the release of intracellular matter and, ultimately, the death of bacteria by altering their permeability. Moreover, antibacterial beryllium is relatively less toxic to normal human cells, which makes them highly visible in the development of new antibacterial drugs. For example, certain frog-skin-skin-scrutinized antibacteriums can protect frogs from infection in a damp and bacterial environment, and scientists are trying to use this natural antibacterial strategy to develop more secure and effective antibacterial drugs.
Nanosil is also a shining star on the antibacterial stage. These tiny silver particles, usually of nanoscale sizes, contain enormous antibacterial energy. Nanosil’s antibacterial principles are largely based on its strong oxidation capacity and on the destructive effects on bacterial cellular membranes. It is capable of releasing silver ions, which are associated with active radicals such as gills in bacteria and interfere with normal metabolic processes in bacteria. At the same time, nanosilver particles can be attached directly to the bacterial membranes, causing cytological membrane damage and loss of activity. Nanosil is widely used in a number of industries, including medical, textile and food packaging. In the medical field, nanosilver coated medical devices, such as urine catheters, wound dressing, etc., can effectively reduce the risk of infection; in the textile industry, fabrics containing nanosilver can sustain anti-bacterial performance for long periods of time, reduce the aerobic and bacterial growth, and bring more healthy and comfortable wear experiences. Another category that has to be mentioned is the ammonium salt compound. They are a type of anionic surfactant with good fungicide. Quarterly ammonium salt is capable of adsorbing on the surface of bacteria, altering the permeability of bacterial cellular membranes and imposing within cells, leading to bacterial death. Such compounds are of a stable, less toxic and user-friendly nature and are therefore widely used in products such as disinfectants and cleaning agents in daily life. For example, some of our common hand-washing fluids and disinfection towels contain dyslexammonium salt that can effectively kill bacteria and prevent the spread of disease during daily cleaning.
In this anti-bacterial war, where there is no smoke, these magical substances are known. But bacteria are also evolving and mutating, trying to break these antibacterial lines. As a result, scientists continue to work tirelessly, on the one hand, to study in depth the functioning mechanisms of existing antibacterial substances, to optimize their performance and to overcome the problem of bacterial resistance, and, on the other hand, to actively explore new antibacterial substances and technologies, such as the use of cacteria for the treatment of bacterial infections and the development of new antibacterial materials. These anti-bacterial heroes, who guard our health, whose battles cannot be seen directly by our naked eyes, are truly reflected in our healthy lives. In the future, as science and technology continue to advance, it is believed that there will be more antibacterial heroes who will continue to defend human health and continue their legendary chapters.
