A novel formulation for combating biofilms and improving orthopaedic surgical wound healing

骨科手术后最严重的并发症之一是深层手术部位感染（SSI）的发展，这是由于各种来源的细菌污染，包括患者本身和医院。细菌可以浮游形式存在，也可以生物膜存在。生物膜作为细菌的物理保护屏障，防止抗体、噬菌体、粒细胞和杀菌剂、防腐剂、抗生素的渗透，从而导致抗生素无效和抗菌素耐药性（AMR）。该项目通过一种全面的术后伤口护理方法来解决这些挑战：通过应用一种含有多种营养物质的新型配方来预防或控制浮游细菌的增殖，并在植入物和组织表面形成生物膜，从而进行早期预防性干预。其次，本项目探索该制剂在治疗手术部位生物膜诱导感染方面的潜力，如果发生生物膜感染，该制剂可以增强生物膜渗透能力，并在生物膜解体后杀死耐药细菌。第三，配方中的某些化合物可以促进皮肤组织再生，一旦感染被阻止，这可能会减少伤口恢复所需的时间，并最大限度地减少疤痕组织的形成。

One of the most serious complications following orthopaedic surgery is the development of a deep surgical site infection (SSI) that is due to bacteria contamination from various sources including patients themselves and hospital. The bacteria can exist in planktonic form and in biofilms. The biofilm acts as a physical protective barrier of the bacteria from the penetration of antibodies, bacteriophages, granulocytes and biocides, antiseptics, antibiotics[1] and thus lead to the ineffectiveness of antibiotics and antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This project addresses these challenges through a holistic post surgery wound care approach: early-stage prophylactic intervention through the application of a novel formulation with multiple nutrients to prevent or control planktonic bacteria from proliferation and forming biofilms on both the implant and tissue surfaces. Secondly, this project explores the formulation's potential for the treatment of biofilm induced infection on the surgical site, if it occurs, through the formulation's enhanced biofilm penetration capability and killing resistant bacteria after the biofilm disintegration. Thirdly, certain compounds in the formulation can promote skin tissue regeneration once infection is kept at bay, which could potentially reduce the time taken for wounds recovery and minimise scar tissue formation.