The development of bacterial resistance mechanisms to antimicrobial drugs poses a serious threat to the treatment of common infectious diseases and compromises the safety of medical procedures such as surgery. The potential absence of effective antimicrobials has spurred research in both the public and defense sectors. Here, we explore the application of two promising classes of alternative therapeutic agents, antimicrobial peptides (AMP) and lytic bacteriophages, to electrospun nanofibrous wound dressings. Nanofibrous materials are ideal candidates as they have high surface area/volume ratios and have previously demonstrated effectiveness in the delivery of active therapeutic biomolecules. Nanofiber mats, composed of different compositions containing poly(ethylene glycol), polycaprolactone and/or hydrophilic polyurethane elastomer, were optimized for encapsulation and release of active therapeutic agent. Injuries suffered in combat, particularly those which are blast-related, are susceptible to infection and therefore, it is critical that novel therapeutic materials address complications arising from multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial infections.

Nanofiber wound-dressings for treatment of multidrug-resistant infections

255th National Meeting (2018)

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