Nanoengineered photoactivated drug-free antimicrobial precision treatment for chronic skin wounds

Antibiotic-resistant bacterial skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) are difficult to diagnose and treat, prolonging hospital stays and lowering quality of life.

Chronic wounds harbour antibiotic-resistant microorganisms that form biofilms, leading to conditions like diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs).

Approximately 50% of DFUs become infected, making them the most prevalent and costly diabetes complication, with a higher mortality and morbidity risk from lower limb amputation.

There is an urgent need to develop effective, localised solutions for treating SSTIs that do not depend on antibiotics, especially against complex biofilms like those occurring in DFU cases.In this Proof of Concept project, we will evaluate a PHOTOCURE wound patch: a porous nanothin Ag/TiOx film with visible-light photocatalytic activity that produces superoxide radicals to effectively eradicate biofilms in the SSTIs context.

The patch boasts enhanced mechanical stability for durability and sustained activity across multiple irradiation cycles, offering a viable option for recurrent treatment.

PHOTOCURE patch presents a more efficient drug-free alternative to conventional antibiotic treatments, with reduced adverse effects, addressing the escalating challenges of antibiotic and multidrug resistance.The project will validate the antimicrobial efficacy of TiOx-polymer nanocomposite patches against both single and multiple-species biofilms relevant to chronic SSTIs, notably DFUs, using ex vivo and in vivo human-relevant models.

Subsequently, we will devise a comprehensive IP strategy, secure initial patents, and conduct thorough market and competitor analyses within the antimicrobial wound care dressing sector. Finally, we will outline a detailed business case for advancing the PHOTOCURE prototype to market.