Cardamom provides protection against pathogens.
And, as an Australia-based research team recently discovered, pathogens can also be held at bay using peppermint essential oil. This could be particularly important in the context of medical devices.
In an initial test, plasma was used to apply an extremely thin film of peppermint oil to a urinary catheter. Enabling the oil molecules to build a robust, nanometre-scale network structure which bonded to the catheter’s surface.
The coating successfully killed infection-causing bacteria such as E. Coli. It also provided greater comfort to the patient as the body accepted the device better, allowing the immune system to focus on healing.
Another anti-bacterial coating, meanwhile, is inspired by fleas. Black phosphorus also protects against antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
