Technology Description
Researchers at Johns Hopkins have developed a polymer film coating for bandages and/or medical devices. treating or preventing infections. The coating can be used to delivery drugs for the treatment or prevention of infections, as the material can be synthesized to include several bioactive agents immobilized in such a way that the release rate of each can be modulated. Data demonstrates that such materials loaded with antibiotics can effectively treat bone and joint infections. Importantly, these materials can protect implants from implant-associated infection. Overall, this technology offers a biocompatible coating that can effectively treat or prevent infections.
Unmet Need
Implant-associated infections are a significant complication of orthopedic surgery. The incidence of these infections in joint-replacement patients is estimated to be between 3% and 5%, with a recurrence rate of up to 15% after infection treatment. These infections present severe clinical problems, requiring resection of the implant and/or systemic antimicrobial therapy. Thus, there is an unmet need for supplemental biomaterial solutions to locally protect implants from infection.
Value Proposition
· Biomaterial can be loaded with several drugs, including antibiotics, to treat or prevent infection.
· Biomaterial can coat bandages or implants directly to localize treatment.
· Release rate of each drug can be modulated to shorten or prolong their activity.
Stage of Development
· The biomaterial has shown efficacy in in vivo models of bacterial biofilm formation and infection.
Data Availability
· Data available upon request.
Publication
Miller RJ, Thompson JM, Zheng J, Marchitto MC, Archer NK, Pinsker BL, Ortines RV, Jiang X, Martin RA, Brown ID, Wang Y, Sterling RS, Mao HQ, Miller LS. In Vivo Bioluminescence Imaging in a Rabbit Model of Orthopaedic Implant-Associated Infection to Monitor Efficacy of an Antibiotic-Releasing Coating. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2019 Feb 20;101(4):e12. doi: 10.2106/JBJS.18.00425. PMID: 30801375; PMCID: PMC6738548.
