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Quorum-sensing-responsive materials: Toward living smart interfaces in biomedical systems.
Santosh Pandit1, Demet Erdönmez2, Duygu Polat2
1Systems and Synthetic Biology Division, Department of Life Sciences, Chalmers University of Technology, SE-412 96 Gothenburg, Sweden.
Advances in Colloid and Interface Science
|May 7, 2026
Summary
Smart materials sensitive to bacterial communication (quorum sensing) offer new ways to diagnose infections early and deliver targeted treatments. These innovative platforms can help combat antibiotic resistance and improve patient care.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Infectious Disease Research
- Antimicrobial Development
Background:
- Quorum sensing (QS) is a bacterial communication system regulating virulence and biofilm formation.
- Traditional biomaterials are passive and lack dynamic infection-response capabilities.
- Emerging smart materials can sense and respond to QS signals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the clinical significance of QS-sensitive materials.
- To outline mechanism-driven design principles for these smart materials.
- To discuss translational challenges and future potential.
Main Methods:
- Leveraging bacterial communication molecules (acylhomoserine lactones, autoinducer peptides).
- Designing materials to detect QS thresholds linked to virulence or biofilm.
- Integrating QS detection with therapeutic outputs like drug release or surface modification.
Main Results:
- QS-sensitive materials enable early detection of pathogenic activity.
- These materials can trigger targeted antimicrobial release and modulate host responses.
- Dynamic "living" interfaces offer infection-specific effects with reduced systemic exposure.
Conclusions:
- QS-sensitive materials represent a significant advancement in infection diagnosis and therapy.
- They hold potential for addressing antibiotic resistance and improving patient outcomes.
- These platforms support precision infection control in healthcare settings.
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