先前的研究中發現，耐甲氧西林金黃色葡萄球菌（金黃色葡萄球菌）（MRSA）是膿性皮膚和軟組織感染最常見的原因。儘管抗生素已被廣泛用於治療MRSA的皮膚感染，但是不適當地使用抗生素會有非常大的風險產生具有抗藥藥性金黃色葡萄球菌。因此我們開發了可以吸收和釋放銅離子的水膠，一種具有抑制USA300（一種社區型MRSA）生長能力的半胱氨酸水凝膠。傅里葉變換紅外光譜（FTIR）分析的結果表明以半胱氨酸為基材的水膠與銅離子間具有相互作用。在應用方面，具有半胱氨酸水膠與銅結合到ICR小鼠背部皮膚上的USA 300感染皮膚上顯著增強傷口癒合，阻礙USA300的生長，並減少促炎症巨噬細胞炎症蛋白2- α（MIP-2）細胞因子。我們的研究成功完成一種水膠具有與銅離子結合的功能，並可抑制微生物的生長，做為一種新式的傷口敷料。;The methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) (MRSA) is reported as the most common cause of purulent skin and soft tissue infections. Although antibiotics have been widely used for treatment of skin infection of MRSA, but the inappropriate use of antibiotics runs a considerable risk of generating resistant S. aureus. Here we develop a cysteine-capped hydrogel which can absorb and release copper, an ion with the capability of suppressing the growth of USA300, a community-acquired MRSA. Results from the analysis of fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) indicate the interaction of a cysteine-capped hydrogel with copper. Topical application of a cysteine-capped hydrogel binding with copper onto a USA300-infected skin wound in the dorsal skin of ICR mice significantly enhance the wound healing, hinder the growth of USA300, and reduce the production of pro-inflammatory macrophage inflammatory protein 2-alpha (MIP-2) cytokine. Our work demonstrates a newly designed hydrogel which conjugates a cysteine molecule for copper binding. The cysteine-capped hydrogel potentially can chelate various antimicrobial metals as a novel wound dressing.
