Translation of Antibiofilm Technologies to Wounds and Other Clinical Care

Abstract

Nearly 80% of global bacterial infections are associated with biofilm bacteria (Joo, Otto, Chem Biol 19:1503–1513, 2012). In contrast to planktonic bacteria, biofilms are a complex, organized bacterial community possessing a sophisticated protective armor, in the form of the extracellular polymeric substance (EPS), which acts as a robust defense mechanism against eradication. Chronic biofilm infections affect 17 million people annually, and approximately 550,000 people die as a result of their chronic infections (Wolcott et al J Wound Care 19:45–50, 2010). The challenge with biofilm-related infections is that they cannot be adequately confirmed via diagnostic tests in the clinical setting, and, more importantly, they are intrinsically resistant to host immunity, antibiotics, and biocides. This renders current therapeutic options inadequate to successfully eradicate the infection. Next Science™ has applied novel material science methods to combat biofilm through its innovative Xbio™ technology. Xbio technology, which includes the proprietary product, BlastX™, works by disrupting the biofilm matrix and creating an environment that compromises the biofilm’s structural integrity. In doing so, the EPS can be broken down and removed, thereby allowing the pathogens within the environment to be targeted and preventing the biofilm’s reformation.