Acceleration of Burn Healing Through a Novel Sustained-Release Smart Dressing
Abstract
New therapeutics for complex burn wounds that promote rapid wound closure and healing and reduce the risk of infection would be of great benefit to active Service Members, Veterans, and general population patients. Burn therapies are limited, costly, and usually delivered in specialty medical units where access to care can be difficult to obtain. Our therapeutic candidates target key regulators of the wound healing pathway and activate multiple factors that enhance overall wound healing through stimulating cell survival, motility and proliferation, angiogenesis, progenitor cell recruitment and re-epithelialization. Our technology represents a novel approach to the development of potent therapeutics for the treatment of burn wounds. FY21 MBRP IDA Focus Area Addressed: The proposal addresses the Focus Area complex combat-related burns, within Research Classifications 0801 (Drug Development) and 0825 (Tissue Stimulation). The product under development is stable and convenient enough that it could be used in a combat setting with burns in conjunction with complex wounds, and it could equally be used in a hospital setting. Applications, Benefits, and Risks: The oligonucleotide-based therapeutics to be developed in this program work through a novel mechanism called RNA interference, whereby short pieces of therapeutic RNA seek out related sequences of a target RNA and lead to its destruction. Our therapeutic RNAs accelerate burn healing through a novel sustained-release smart dressing/bandage. The RNAs are packaged for release in the wound by coating them onto the surface of a standard mesh material used for dressings. RNA has a negative charge, and by dipping the material alternately in a solution of RNA and a second solution of a positively charged polymeric substance, we can build up many bilayers of the RNA and the positively charged material. When the coated dressing is placed onto an opened wound, enzymes in the wound cause breakdown of the positive polymer, resulting in the release of RNA-containing particles of a size that nearby cells can take in and deliver the RNAs inhibitory effect. These smart bandages are expected to produce relatively long-lasting therapeutic effects, allowing for infrequent dosing. The most important goal of burn treatment is preventing secondary burn wound progression and inducing rapid re-epithelialization of the burn area. This goal is particularly important in the context of polytrauma where there may be complex wounds in addition to burns, and closing of the wounds is key to minimizing infection, fluid loss, and pain. The product we are developing is a dry medicated dressing that is likely be stable at ambient temperature for extended time periods and could be administered at all points in the continuum of care from the battlefield to a hospital setting. Timeline to Affecting Clinical Outcomes: Published work by SomaGenics and collaborators has demonstrated efficacy in non-burn wounds in a mouse model. The work described in this proposal will test efficacy against burn wounds in a standard animal model for burn healing. Together these data, plus standard preclinical safety testing, will allow the program to progress to an Investigative New Drug (IND) application and phase 1 clinical trial. We expect this process will take about 24 months.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Dec 28, 2022
- Source ID
- W81XWH2211013
Entities
People
- Brian H Johnston
Organizations
- SomaGenics (United States)
- United States Army