SBIR Phase I: Nanoparticle Antimicrobial Coatings on Natural Scaffolds for Tissue Reconstruction

这个小型企业创新研究第一阶段项目通过开发旨在预防医院内微生物感染的新型组织基质，解决了抗击医院获得性感染的重要问题。该项目的目的是将抗菌纳米材料和一种天然真皮产品结合起来，以帮助预防重建手术期间发生的感染。这项概念验证研究将开发使用抗菌纳米颗粒的逐层组装在自然组织基质上生产均匀和适形涂层的方法。重要的是，该项目将评估纳米涂层天然真皮在液体和固体介质中消除或抑制细菌生长的效果。还将进行体外研究，以确定工程真皮对哺乳动物细胞的毒性和活性，以支持哺乳动物细胞的生长。第一阶段的结果预计将产生一种优化的抗菌真皮支架，将在动物实验伤口上进行重点第二阶段的评估。该项目的更广泛影响/商业潜力将解决越来越多的医院获得性感染来自抗生素耐药病原体的问题。每年有近170万人在医院感染，9.9万人死亡，耐药细菌菌株的增加是一个严重的安全问题，也是我国医疗保健系统的重大成本负担。拟议的技术是一种多功能的选择，在抗击细菌感染和抗生素耐药性流行方面提供了广泛的解决方案。此外，用于表征所建议的复合材料的方法将增加对与纳米颗粒衍生的抗菌活性相关的机制的宝贵洞察，并将有助于指导未来在纳米生物技术领域的努力。

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project addresses the important problem of combating hospital acquired infections with the development of novel tissue matrices aimed at preventing nosocomial microbial infection. The aim of this project is to combine antimicrobial nanomaterials and a natural dermis product to help prevent infections that occur during reconstructive surgeries. This proof-of-concept study will develop methods for the production of uniform and conformal coatings on natural tissue matrices using layer-by-layer assembly of antimicrobial nanoparticles. Importantly, this project will evaluate the efficacy of nanocoated natural dermis in eliminating or inhibiting bacterial growth in liquid and solid media. In vitro studies also will be conducted to establish mammalian cell toxicity and viability of the engineered dermis in supporting mammalian cell growth. Phase I results are expected to produce an optimized antimicrobial dermis scaffold that will be carried onto a focused Phase II evaluation in animal experimental wounds.The broader impact/commercial potential of this project will address the growing problem of hospital acquired infections from antibiotic resistant pathogens. With nearly 1.7 million hospital-acquired infections and 99,000 deaths per year, increases in antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains represent a critical safety concern and a significant cost burden to our nation's health care system. The proposed technology is a versatile option that provides a broad spectrum solution in combating bacterial infections and the prevalence of antibiotic resistance. Furthermore, the methods used to characterize the proposed composite materials will add valuable insight into mechanisms associated with nanoparticle-derived antimicrobial activity, and will help guide future efforts in the arena of nanobiotechnology.