Researchers from NanoBio Corporation and the University of Michigan Medical School today announced the receipt of a $1.5 million grant from the Department of Defense (DoD) to study the use of nanoemulsion-based therapies for protection against burn and wound infections.
In combat situations, soldiers frequently suffer devastating wounds in circumstances where sterile medical care cannot be provided. Following injury, as soldiers are treated and evacuated from the battlefield, their wounds are sometimes exposed to bacteria that can lead to life-threatening complications. This risk is particularly high after severe burn injury. Prevention of wound infection and controlling inflammatory response is critical to aiding the recovery process and protecting soldiers from debilitating and life-threatening infections.
This DoD grant will support IND-enabling studies of NB-201, a novel nanoemulsion-based topical anti-infective treatment being developed as a collaborative effort between the University of Michigan Medical School and NanoBio Corporation. In animal studies, NB-201 has been shown to dramatically reduce the severity of burn wound infections as well as inflammation following burn injuries.
NB-201 is based on NanoBios patented NanoStat technology which utilizes nanoemulsions to physically disrupt the outer membrane of a pathogen, thereby killing the microbe. This unique, physical mechanism of action of NB-201 limits the potential for drug resistance to develop. Furthermore, unlike currently available therapies, NB-201 is selectively toxic to microbes while non-irritating to skin and healthy tissue.
"NB-201 represents a major advance in wound care technology," says James R. Baker, Jr., MD, founder and chief executive officer of NanoBio. "It is a topical treatment that can be safely and easily applied at the time of injury without causing pain or interfering with the healing process. The nanoemulsion therapy prevents infection that often occurs in combat situations as a result of wound exposure. NB-201 is stable at high temperatures, can be safely transported to remote areas that lack controlled storage and is easily administered. These attributes are critical to providing care to wounded soldiers in combat scenarios."
