(WHS-P56) EVALUATION OF AN ULTRATHIN SYNTHETIC ANTIBIOFILM MATRIX IN THE HEALING OF FULL THICKNESS BURN WOUNDS IN A PORCINE MODEL
Friday, May 17, 2024
7:30 AM – 5:00 PM East Coast USA Time
Introduction: The healthcare costs associated with treatment of chronic and burn wounds exceeds $25 billion annually in the US. Here we report the evaluation of a synthetic matrix, made of polyvinyl alcohol with a polymeric multilayer coating impregnated with silver and gallium that together kill biofilm bacteria, in healing of full thickness porcine burn wounds. The matrix has been shown to kill > 4 Log10 CFUs of clinically relevant planktonic and single-/multispecies biofilm bacteria (reported elsewhere).
Method: 20 full thickness burn wounds of 2 cm diameter were created on the back of 3 pigs using heated brass rod following a published method (Telgenhoff et al. 2007). Post burn, the wounds were excised and ten wounds on either side of the spine on each animal were treated with/without the matrix and wrapped with a protective Curad pad and ELASTIKON to secure the dressings. The dressings were reapplied on days 2, 4, 7, 10, 14 and 21. On days 0, 3, 7 and 28 blood samples were collected for complete blood count and quantification of silver and gallium in the blood plasma by inductively coupled plasma – mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Samples for histology were collected on Days 7 and 28. After euthanasia, gross necropsy of all major organs were performed.
Results: Macroscopically and microscopically, wound healing followed the normal progression at all intervals and the wounds were healed completely by day 28. No major differences in the average scores for wound healing parameters -- including granulation tissue, erythema, edema and re-epithelialization -- at 7 and 28 days of treatment was observed. Histology analysis showed similar to near identical healing response scores at days 7 and 28. The matrix was classified as slight irritant when compared to Curad pads (control) at day 28, however this did not appear to affect wound healing, thus showing that the matrix is safe for use in full thickness burn wounds. Furthermore, the levels of silver and gallium in blood plasma assessed by ICP-MS were found to be below the limit of detection (0.5 ppb), thus confirming that there was no systemic absorption of silver or gallium during the 28-day healing period from the repeated topical applications of the matrix.
Conclusion: The antibiofilm silver/gallium matrix did not impair the healing of full thickness thermal burn wounds in a preclinical porcine model, exhibiting a high potential for clinical use.