I-Corps: Drug delivery device for treatment of prosthetic joint infection

该I-Corps项目更广泛的影响/商业潜力是开发用于关节置换手术和创伤应用、脊柱感染以及踝关节和肩关节置换的药物输送系统。关节置换术是成功的，但偶尔会并发术后感染，其他骨科手术也是如此。 拟议中的技术将向这些手术部位提供抗生素，以减少感染。该技术将允许抗生素浓度在更长的时间内保持在更高的水平，这可能会缩短治疗持续时间，目前患者一次没有髋关节或膝关节数月。这个I-Corps项目是基于开发一种药物输送系统来治疗关节置换术/关节置换术等术后关节感染（PJI）。目前用于治疗术后关节感染的治疗方案需要静脉内抗生素沿着手术以清除该区域并局部递送抗菌剂。传统上，这包括通过使用骨水泥、聚甲基丙烯酸甲酯（PMMA）输送抗菌剂。以这种方式递送的抗菌剂达到最低抑菌浓度（MIC）;然而，引起持续性PJI的主要罪魁祸首通常是细菌生物膜。充分治疗和根除生物膜相关感染的能力需要称为最小细菌根除浓度（MBEC）的抗生素浓度，其浓度比MIC高100-1000倍。目前的药物递送限于爆发洗脱模式，在MIC下具有有限的持续时间，并且一旦手术完成就不能修改。该技术旨在改善药物输送，以允许更高水平的局部输送，并可根据培养结果的需要增加或改变。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this I-Corps project is the development of a drug delivery system for use in joint replacement surgery and in trauma applications, spine infections, and ankle and shoulder replacements. Joint replacements are successful but occasionally complicated by postoperative infections, as are other orthopaedic procedures. The proposed technology will deliver antibiotics to those surgical sites to reduce infections. The technology will allow antibiotic concentrations to be maintained at higher levels for longer periods of time, which may shorten treatment durations currently leaving patients without a hip or knee for months at a time.This I-Corps project is based on the development of a drug delivery system to treat post-operative joint infections (PJI) for conditions including joint arthroplasties/ The current treatment algorithm for the treatment of postoperative joint infections requires intravenous antibiotics along with surgery to debride the area and deliver antimicrobials locally. Traditionally, this includes the delivery of antimicrobials through the use of bone cement, polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA). Antimicrobials delivered in this fashion reach minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC); however, the primary culprit causing persistent PJI is often bacterial biofilm. The ability to adequately treat and eradicate biofilm-related infections requires an antibiotic concentration known as the minimum bacterial eradication concentration (MBEC), which is 100-1000 times greater in concentration than the MIC. Current drug delivery is limited to a burst elution pattern, with limited duration at the MIC and cannot be modified once surgery is complete. The proposed technology seeks to improve drug delivery to allow higher levels of local delivery that may be increased or changed as culture results warrant.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.