Development of Acylated Nanofibrous Chitosan Membranes for Prehospital Traumatic Wound Coverage, Inhibition of Infection, and Pain Mitigation
Abstract
High-energy trauma causes musculoskeletal injuries that severely damage skin, bone, and muscle. When damage to these organ systems occurs, there is an increased risk for life-threatening infection, especially if bacteria attach to foreign objects such as debris or clothing. These injuries and their treatment affect military personnel who are at risk for exposure to improvised explosive devices and high-velocity projectiles. Traumatic injuries lead to substantial financial burdens and have negative impacts on military readiness. The primary goal of pre-hospital traumatic wound treatment is preventing infection. Currently, in pre-hospital field care, medical treatments for traumatic wounds include antimicrobial creams, ointments, dressings, or combinations in conjunction with pain management drugs. These current treatment strategies are cumbersome, have limited availability, are prone to infection, or are ineffective. Each of these issues alone can lead to treatment failure; however, in combination, there are catastrophic consequences. Traumatic wounds require rapid intervention after the injury to minimize the risk of life-threatening infection and to manage pain. In combat conditions, specialized care for traumatic wound patients may be delayed for hours to days. This project proposes a novel, naturally derived material to form a breathable dressing that can be used immediately after injury to serve as a barrier to microorganisms while delivering antimicrobials and anesthetics that prevent infection and manage pain. The novel therapeutic dressing for traumatic wounds addresses the topic area of Sustained Release Drug Delivery in the Program Announcement for the Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program Discovery Award. The proposed nanofiber dressing is made from a natural, extremely porous material, making it breathable. Still, the pores are smaller than the size of bacteria, thus impeding them from contaminating wounds. The dressings will provide temporary coverage while protecting the wound from subsequent contamination. Dressings can come pre-loaded with local anesthetics to fight infection and mitigate pain. The novel dressing material is easily transportable and packaged for inclusion in medical toolkits or emergency supplies, ready for use as soon as possible at the time of injury. At the point of injury, it can be wrapped around or packed within the damaged tissue, facilitating self-application or use by non-medical personnel. Once in place, the dressing releases therapeutics for up to 3 days or until the patient arrives at a medical facility where specialized treatment for traumatic injuries can be administered. The dressing or packing material may also be reapplied after wound cleaning and surgical procedures. This proposed research will determine the efficacy of the novel dressing material for releasing drugs over the duration of three days, prevention of infection, and healing. The benefits of this therapy for both military and civilian patients include its non-opioid pain management strategy, infection preventative properties, and healing advantages. Risks such as rare allergic reactions to local anesthetics or delivering too much of the drug can be minimized by limiting the dose contained within dressings. The proposed research has components currently available that have demonstrated traumatic wound healing benefits and could result in a clinically viable product ready for military use within a matter of years. Further preclinical and clinical research could expand the utility of this idea into other clinical applications.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Dec 05, 2021
- Source ID
- W81XWH2110193
Entities
People
- Jessica Jennings
Organizations
- United States Army
- University of Memphis