We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress hp
Sign In
Advertise with Us
ARAB HEALTH - INFORMA

Download Mobile App




Microneedle Array Patch Pierces Bacterial Biofilms

By HospiMedica International staff writers
Posted on 12 Oct 2021
Print article
Image: Flexible microneedles effectively eradicate biofilm infections (Photo courtesy of Vincent Walter/ Purdue University)
Image: Flexible microneedles effectively eradicate biofilm infections (Photo courtesy of Vincent Walter/ Purdue University)
A flexible polymer composite microneedle array bypasses biofilm in chronic wounds to deliver both oxygen and bactericidal agents simultaneously.

The polymeric microneedles, developed at Purdue University (Lafayette, IN, USA) and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech; Blacksburg, USA), are manufactured by ultraviolet (UV) polymerization of flexible polyethylene terephthalate, which conformably attaches to the human body. Containing calcium peroxide and polyvinylpyrrolidone, the microneedle array can effectively elevate oxygen levels from 8 to 12 ppm, as well as provide strong bactericidal effects on both liquid and biofilm bacteria cultures, commonly found in dermal wounds.

Results from an ex-vivo assay study on a porcine wound model showed successful insertion of the biodegradable microneedles into the tissue, while also providing effective bactericidal properties against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative microbes within the complex tissue matrix. The microneedles also demonstrated high levels of cytocompatibility, with less than 10% of apoptosis throughout six days of continuous exposure to human dermal fibroblast cells. The study was published on July 19, 2021, in ACS Applied Bio Materials.

“Bacteria biofilm acts as a shield, hindering antibiotics from reaching infected cells and tissues. The traditional method to bypass biofilm is for physicians to peel it off, which is painful to patients and doesn't discriminate unhealthy tissue from healthy tissue,” said senior author Rahim Rahimi, PhD, of the Purdue School of Materials Engineering. “A flexible microneedle array can provide a better approach for increasing the effectiveness of topical tissue oxygenation as well as the treatment of infected wounds with intrinsically antibiotic resistant biofilms.”

Chronic non-healing wounds, such as diabetic foot ulcer (DFU), are colonized by bacteria that often develop into biofilms that act as a physicochemical barrier to therapeutics and tissue oxygenation, leading to chronic inflammation and tissue hypoxia. Although wound debridement and vigorous mechanical abrasion techniques are often used by clinicians to manage and remove biofilms from wound surfaces, such methods are highly nonselective and painful.

Related Links:
Purdue University
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University


Gold Member
Real-Time Diagnostics Onscreen Viewer
GEMweb Live
Gold Member
POC Blood Gas Analyzer
Stat Profile Prime Plus
New
Anterior Cervical Plate System
XTEND
New
Fetal and Maternal Monitor
F9 Series

Print article

Channels

Surgical Techniques

view channel
Image: (Left) An image of a 3D-printed material implanted in vivo for 4 weeks. (Right) A photo of coral (Photo courtesy of Dr Zhidao Xia and Jesus Cobaleda)

Revolutionary Coral-Inspired Material for Bone Repair Promotes Faster Healing

Bone defects caused by fractures, tumors, and non-healing injuries are major contributors to disability worldwide. Traditionally, doctors have used either a patient’s own bone (autograft) or donor bone... Read more

Patient Care

view channel
Image: The portable biosensor platform uses printed electrochemical sensors for the rapid, selective detection of Staphylococcus aureus (Photo courtesy of AIMPLAS)

Portable Biosensor Platform to Reduce Hospital-Acquired Infections

Approximately 4 million patients in the European Union acquire healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) or nosocomial infections each year, with around 37,000 deaths directly resulting from these infections,... Read more

Health IT

view channel
Image: First ever institution-specific model provides significant performance advantage over current population-derived models (Photo courtesy of Mount Sinai)

Machine Learning Model Improves Mortality Risk Prediction for Cardiac Surgery Patients

Machine learning algorithms have been deployed to create predictive models in various medical fields, with some demonstrating improved outcomes compared to their standard-of-care counterparts.... Read more

Point of Care

view channel
Image: The acoustic pipette uses sound waves to test for biomarkers in blood (Photo courtesy of Patrick Campbell/CU Boulder)

Handheld, Sound-Based Diagnostic System Delivers Bedside Blood Test Results in An Hour

Patients who go to a doctor for a blood test often have to contend with a needle and syringe, followed by a long wait—sometimes hours or even days—for lab results. Scientists have been working hard to... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2024 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.