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

这个小企业创新研究第一阶段项目通过开发旨在预防医院微生物感染的新型组织基质来解决与医院获得性感染作斗争的重要问题。该项目的目的是结合抗菌纳米材料和天然真皮产品，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一种方法，利用抗菌纳米颗粒的逐层组装，在天然组织基质上生产均匀和适形涂层。重要的是，该项目将评估纳米涂层天然真皮层在消除或抑制液体和固体介质中细菌生长的功效。体外研究也将进行，以确定哺乳动物细胞毒性和工程真皮在支持哺乳动物细胞生长方面的活力。I期研究结果预计将产生一种优化的抗菌真皮支架，该支架将在动物实验伤口中进行集中的II期评估。该项目的更广泛影响/商业潜力将解决日益严重的医院获得性感染问题，这些感染来自耐抗生素病原体。每年有近170万医院获得性感染和99,000例死亡，抗生素耐药菌株的增加代表了一个关键的安全问题，也是我们国家医疗保健系统的重大成本负担。提出的技术是一种通用的选择，为对抗细菌感染和抗生素耐药性的流行提供了广泛的解决方案。此外，用于表征所提出的复合材料的方法将为纳米颗粒衍生的抗菌活性相关机制提供有价值的见解，并将有助于指导纳米生物技术领域的未来努力。

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.