Chronic, non-healing wounds affect nearly 7 million people in the US, causing tremendous suffering and disability. Treating these wounds costs the healthcare system an estimated $50 billion per year worldwide. Current therapies, including topical growth factors, skin grafts, and bioengineered skin equivalents, aim to speed up healing but fail to sufficiently block the deleterious effects of chronic inflammation on normal healing. Current cellular therapies lack the biochemical milieu necessary to support viable therapeutic cells in the wound and promote healing. Typical wound treatment regimens include dressings, bandages, and gels. Gel treatments are of particular interest due to their biocompatibility, high water content, and flexibility; however, commercially-available gels are difficult to administer, lack sufficient antimicrobial properties, and are incapable of adhering to a wound for the duration of the healing process. By combining a novel rapid-set gel with therapeutic properties, Cellular Biobandage has the potential to revolutionize wound care and healing.
Description
Cellular Biobandage consists of mesenchymal stem cells, collagen, fibroblasts, and key cytokines, delivered in a biodegradable and biocompatible polyurethane material. This injectable therapeutic gel cures in seconds to an elastomeric resorbable matrix, adhering instantly to address emergency injuries and then remaining in place long enough to prevent infection and inflammation. Curing occurs at physiologically relevant temperatures using silver ions, which are then distributed throughout the matrix, providing antimicrobial properties which limit the growth of bacteria, fungi, and yeast. Our bioactive, degradable, and antimicrobial gel supports cell survival, engraftment efficiency, and wound healing by mimicking the unique properties and microenvironment of native mesenchymal stem cells and stromal cells. Mice treated with Cellular Biobandage have faster and more complete wound healing compared to other preclinical treatment strategies, such as stem cell transplant alone. Both wild type and immunocompromised mice benefit from our treatment, confirming that Cellular Biobandage enables wound healing where other interventions fail.
Applications
· Treatment of chronic wounds in diabetic patients
· Prevention of chronic inflammation for traumatic and surgical wounds
· Treatment of non-healing pressure ulcers
· Post-surgical wound healing
· Emergency medicine
· Battlefield medicine
· In vivo tissue engineering
· Platform for wound healing strategies
Advantages
· Liquid material can be easily injected
· Cures quickly and at physiologically relevant temperatures
· Halts the chronic inflammation cycle of non-healing wounds
· Activates natural tissue regeneration and speeds up the healing process
· Promotes efficient delivery and survival of therapeutic cells
· Impedes bacterial colonization through antimicrobial properties
· In vivo tissue engineering
· Platform for wound healing strategiesry and survival of therapeutic cells
· Impedes bacterial colonization through antimicrobial properties
Invention Readiness
In vitro and in vivo animal tests
IP Status
https://patents.google.com/patent/US8029774B2
