Finding an innovative way to treat sinusitis without the need for medication

 Scientists have developed a unique method for treating sinusitis without the need for medication.

The American journal Science Advances, which published the research, confirmed that the new treatment method relies on microscopic robots capable of reaching deep, difficult-to-reach areas within the sinuses and destroying the delicate biofilms of bacteria that cause chronic infection. According to the research results, the new system, called CBMRs, combines three technologies: magnetic control, fiber-optic illumination, and photocatalytic activity. This combination enables precise treatment targeting inflamed areas, even in the presence of viscous purulent secretions in the sinuses. The microrobots, called CBMRs, consist of a material saturated with copper atoms, activated by visible light supplied by a fiber-optic probe. Upon entering the inflamed areas of the sinuses, they begin releasing reactive oxygen species (ROS), molecules that destroy the bacterial walls. The photothermal effect increases the temperature of the affected area, reducing the viscosity of the pus and allowing the robot to penetrate three times deeper than usual.

Tests conducted on rabbit models of sinusitis showed promising results, with the robots successfully reaching the centers of inflammation and significantly reducing bacterial activity by destroying the thin biofilms, which are the primary cause of chronic, treatment-resistant infections. The developers of these robots believe this therapeutic approach is not limited to sinusitis alone, but could be adapted to treat other types of deep-seated infections in which bacterial biofilms are resistant to conventional antibiotics.