Theurapetic Hydrogel Sensors for Monitoring and Treatment of Wounds
Abstract
Theurapetic Hydrogel Sensors for Monitoring and Treatment of WoundsMilitary wounds can be complex and are highly susceptible to the development of infection. Rapid detection of these infections along with localized treatment has the potential to improve the outcome of wound healing in wounded patients. Many factors are important in wound healing for an infected wound, including treatment of the infection via antimicrobialagents and exposure to immunomodulatory factors. In addition, it is highly desirable for any locally applied wound healing device to reduce the wound dead space, promote autolytic debridement, and maintain a moist environment for wound healing. Hydrogels have the unique ability to fulfill each of these requirements. In the proposed work, we will develop advanced hydrogel formulations that act as diagnostic indicators of infection, via tethered colorimetric probes, while encapsulating a variety of therapeutic factors (e.g. antimicrobial agents, growth factors, stem cells) which can be used to initiate treatment of a wounded, potentially infected patient. We will utilize Food and Drug Administration-approved synthetic and natural polymers, including gellan and poly(ethylene glycol), to formulate the hydrogel backbone. Various synthetic approaches, centering on carbodiimide and amide coupling chemistries, will be utilized to conjugate chromogenic diagnostic indicators to the polymers. Hydrogel formation and melting will be investigated following these synthetic approaches, along with the infection sensing capability of the hydrogels. The properties of the hydrogels upon therapeuticencapsulation will also be thoroughly investigated and utilized to design optimal hydrogels forwound healing in an infected wound environment. For the example of encapsulated antimicrobial agents, the fundamental dependence of drug release kinetics and hydrogel chemical and mechanical properties on hydrogel composition will be studied. In conjunction with studyingour hydrogel formulations in vitro, limited in vivo testing in appropriate infected wound models will be performed with collaborators in the Rhode Island Hospital Division of Infectious Diseases, including testing the proposed materials in infected burn wounds. Finally, we proposeto study the effects of storage and environmental conditions on the hydrogel formulations we develop. The advanced hydrogel formulations developed in the proposed research, can simultaneously serve as wound dressings and as diagnostic devices for the detection of infection, greatly enhancing the capabilities of current clinically available wound healing devices. Theinsight provided into indicator conjugation, cell and therapeutic encapsulation, drug release mechanisms and their dependence on hydrogel composition, will improve the fundamental understanding of hydrogels, which are of critical importance in a variety of fields, including biomaterials science.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jan 04, 2017
- Source ID
- N000141712120
Entities
People
- Anita Shukla
Organizations
- Brown University
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy