POLYMER EXPLORATION GROUP, LLC — Department of Health and Human Services SBIR Phase I: 300

Description

DESCRIPTION provided by applicant Catheter associated urinary tract infections CAUTIs are often encountered with subsequent antibiotic administration contributing to buildup of bacterial resistance Leaving behind customary methods including release of silver and antimicrobials PEG LLC will develop a new approach whereby catheters are overcoated with a thin film that kills bacteria on contact but is compatible with human cells The promise of this new overcoat method is not based on any single characteristic but on an unprecedented combination of features These include an andquot intelligent choiceandquot for an economical catheter overcoat that is cytocompatible antimicrobial and has a mechanical property match Proposed Randamp D is based on a promising paradigm breaking compositional approach coupled with in vitro tests designed to assess feasibility for catheter applications The proposed andquot bottoms upandquot materials engineering fills a strong need in the face of andquot top downandquot requirements to achieve such unprecedented capability economically Indeed PEG LLC overcoated catheters promise a major impact not only on improving patient outcomes but in providing an economic benefit in reducing the rapidly rising cost of medical care Key Words catheters overcoat cell compatibility antimicrobial PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE Polymer Exploration Group LLC PA Narrative Project Narrative Relevance Polymeric medical devices such as catheters that placed intraperitoneally and intra bladder often stimulate foreign body reaction of the local tissue Inflammatory cells adhere to the surface shortly after insertion Alternations in the surrounding tissue also occur in a very short period This process starts with deposition of proteins on the surface followed by macrophages and inflammatory cells Bacteria also form biofilms that complicate catheter associated urinary tract infections and increase antibiotic resistance of bacteria The proposed research aims at an exciting new technology that will provide multifunctional catheter biomaterials MCBs that have low protein and cell adhesion and low toxicity to surrounding tissue as well as kill bacteria on contact without biocide release This is achieved by covalently tethering a protein repelling function and antimicrobial function to the catheter surface As a result cell adhesion and bacteria adhesion can be minimized