StABL-SD for Improved Burn Casualty Stabilization and Transport

Our warfighters are at great risk of large area burn wounds from incendiary munitions and improvised devices. Limitations of currently utilized field dressings greatly increase incidences of wound infection, further deterioration, shock and fatalities during CASEVAC to higher echelon levels of military medical care. During Phase I, Lynntech demonstrated strong proof-of-concept in vitro for a novel approach, termed StABL-SD, to rapidly and reagentlessly sterilize and simultaneously encase burn wounds within a thin film dressing, which provides prophylaxis against infectious pathogens, controlled oxygen and vapor transport, and active support for proliferative wound healing. In this proposed Phase II effort, we will fabricate prototype StABL-SD devices and demonstrate their utility in vivo using an accepted porcine model of thermal burn wound healing. StABL-SD can be utilized by minimally trained personnel in the theater of battle to stabilize burn casualties immediately after wounding for safer, non-deteriorative and more comfortable transport encased in the protective film dressing. StABL-SD is of direct relevance to the unmet DOD need for improving warfighter survivability during transport stateside while simultaneously improving eventual treatment outcomes. Commercial deployment of StABL-SD in future Phases will enable improved military and civilian burn casualty stabilization for successful and survivable transport to burn units.