Biofilm prevention agent which is non-toxic and biocompatible.
Tested against gram positive and gram negative bacteria.
No risk of increasing antibiotic resistance.
University of Alberta researchers have developed a hydrogel formulation incorporating nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) polymer with demonstrated ability to prevent biofilm formation via physical resistance. Data from testing in urinary catheter tubing has shown that the formulation is 99% effective at reducing initial bacterial adhesion (by depletion of colonization-induced bacterial flocculation) and subsequent biofilm formation on various surfaces.
It is anticipated that the hydrogel can be incorporated into current coating methods or that NCC may be integrated directly into tubing requiring very little change to existing manufacturing processes.
Given that 80% of microbial infections in the body are caused by biofilms, preventing biofilm-formation via medical devices provides an effective strategy for prevention of bacterial infection. Urinary catheters are placed on 15-25% of hospitalized patients and result in more than 560,000 catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI) in the US. Annual estimated CAUTI costs are as high as $1.8 billion.
Intellectual property status
Granted Patent
Patent number : US9744270B2
Where : United States
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