A Highly Efficacious Electrical Biofilm Treatment System for Combating Chronic Wound Bacterial Infections

Abstract

Biofilm infection has a high prevalence in chronic wounds and can delay wound healing. Current treatment using debridement and antibiotic administration imposes a significant burden on patients and healthcare systems. To address their limitations, a highly efficacious electrical antibiofilm treatment system is described in this paper. This system uses high‐intensity current (75 mA cm−2) to completely debride biofilm above the wound surface and enhance antibiotic delivery into biofilm‐infected wounds simultaneously. Combining these two effects, this system uses short treatments (≤2 h) to reduce bacterial count of methicillin‐resistant S. aureus (MRSA) biofilm‐infected ex vivo skin wounds from 1010 to 105.2 colony‐forming units (CFU) g−1. Taking advantage of the hydrogel ionic circuit design, this system enhances the in vivo safety of high‐intensity current application compared to conventional devices. The in vivo antibiofilm efficacy of the system is tested using a diabetic mouse‐based wound infection model. MRSA biofilm bacterial count decreases from 109.0 to 104.6 CFU g−1 at 1 day post‐treatment and to 103.3 CFU g−1 at 7 days post‐treatment, both of which are below the clinical threshold for infection. Overall, this novel technology provides a quick, safe, yet highly efficacious treatment to chronic wound biofilm infections.

Multifunctional Pd Single-Atom Nanozyme for Enhanced Cascade Chemodynamic Therapy of Chronic Wounds

“…The biofilm-induced inflammatory response exacerbates persistent infections and delays chronic wound healing. Therefore, the capacity to puncture and destroy biofilms is a significant indicator of the chronic wound-healing potential of antimicrobial agents. − The specific treatments of S. aureus biofilms were consistent with the six groups described above.…”

Multifunctional nanofibrous mats: toward antibacterial and anti-inflammatory applications, and visual bacterial diagnosis

“…Bacterial infection is a common problem in the process of wound healing. [1][2][3] Without proper management, almost all cutaneous wounds are susceptible to pathogenic bacterial invasion, which may lead to more severe complications, such as bacteremia, septicemia, and even death of the patient. [4][5][6] Moreover, to defend against the attack of invading pathogenic bacteria and remove dead tissue, the immune system activates the inflammatory response locally.…”

An Integrated Therapeutic and Preventive Nanozyme‐Based Microneedle for Biofilm‐Infected Diabetic Wound Healing

“…[11,[18][19][20][21] As reported, the mature S. aureus biofilm could be up to 150 μm thick above the wound surface and could invade up to 190 μm below the surface of the wound. [15,22,23] By adjusting the tip length, the dissolvable MNs can deliver therapeutic agents into the biofilm presented on the wound surface and underlying tissues, enhancing the tissue and biofilm permeability. [24,25] Notably, the dissolvable MNs commonly release the loaded therapeutic agents rapidly after puncturing the wound tissue.…”

“…[ 11 ] Additionally, in vivo, biofilm can infiltrate the deeper damaged tissues. [ 14,15 ] The exudate and necrotic tissue in the wound will hamper the composite nanozyme's ability to reach the underlying tissues, further reducing its antibiofilm effectiveness. [ 16,17 ] Moreover, the exposed wound bed disrupts the delicate balance between the protective skin barrier and microbial invasion, facilitating the colonization of opportunistic bacteria during wound healing.…”