Silicate-Based Films with Antimicrobial Efficacy for Burn Wound Treatments

Every year, more than a million burn injury patients receive medical attention in the US, of which majority are related to first- and second-degree burns. Burns are among the most painful and debilitating wounds that can often turn fatal when infected badly. In addition, around 20,000 suffer from major third-degree burns, and an estimated 4,500 die from burn-related wounds. Patients who are admitted to the hospital after sustaining a large burn injury are at high risk for developing hospital-associated infections. If patients survive the initial three days after a burn injury, infections are the most common cause of death. The risk of infections caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria increases as the patients stays longer time in the hospitals. While susceptible gram-positive organisms predominate in the initial days, the more resistant gram-negative organisms are found later. These findings affect the choice of empiric antibiotics in critically ill burn patients.<br/><br/>To combat such infections only a handful of FDA-approved products are available in the market to treat second and third degree burns, and hardly a handful treat scars associated with such burns. Topical agents in treating wounds such as chlorhexidine, proflavine, iodine, hydrogen peroxide, silver etc. have been used to combat wound infections. However, the relentless emergence of antibiotic resistant strains of pathogens, often with multiple antibiotic resistances, together with the discovery of novel antibiotics has led to the need to find alternative treatments.<br/>We have developed a series of hybrid films engineered by chemical modification of the silicate materials through intercalation and exfoliation of silicate-based materials and metal ions to prevent infections from ESKAPE pathogens without using expensive or environmentally toxic ions or nanoparticles while promoting rapid wound and scar healing. Further, we will also display a metal-less hybrid organic-inorganic system that shows promise in antimicrobial efficacy against gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria. Complete characterization including physico-chemical, spectroscopic and mechanical analyses corroborates our hypothesis for the structures, properties, mechanisms, mechanical durability and microbial activity of such films. The films also exhibit optimal water vapor transport through the pores - an important feature that helps with the healing and quick recovery. Other salient features of these films include cost-effective, near-zero toxicity, biodegradable and mechanical durability, together with easy application on the wound areas, make these hybrid films unique for burn treatments.