Stablilized, Freeze Dried Bacteriophage for use in Austere Environments

Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI), in collaboration with the University of Connecticut (UConn), including Dr. Robin Bogner, with expertise in pharmaceutical freeze drying and sustained release for novel pharmaceutical formulations, and Dr. Carolyn Teschke, with expertise in bacteriophage biology, proposes to develop formulations and processes for freeze drying bacteriophages for improved stability, to enable bacteriophage treatments in austere environments. During prior efforts we demonstrated long-term stability of bacteriophages between storage temperatures of -20 °C and +45 °C and developed a bandage treatment system that provided sustained release of bacteriophages for 1-3 days. During this proposed effort, the PSI-led team will (1) demonstrate improved stability of myoviruses after freeze drying and storage, (2) demonstrate thermal stabilization of clinically relevant bacteriophages provided by Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR), (3) further the development of the time-released bandage system for sustained delivery of stabilized bacteriophage cocktails to treatment of wounds, and (4) demonstrate bacteria kill dynamics on in vitro models of bacterial infection. The overall outcomes of these programs will be a sterile bandage containing freeze-dried bacteriophages for application in austere environments for use by the DoD and ultimately by the general civilian population.