Development of a Field-Ready Antimicrobial Wound Dressing for the Treatment of Vesicant Burns

Cutaneous wounds, such as those resulting from vesicant exposure and thermal injuries, provide an ideal environment for bacterial growth and the complications stemming from wound sepsis. The availability of ready-to-use, antimicrobial skin substitutes that are readily deployed in the field would provide immediate wound closure and reduce the incidence of infection in these wounds. To address these needs, Stratatech Corporation is developing a field-ready, tissue engineered antimicrobial therapeutic called EpiReadyDefense™ for treatment of vesicant, thermal and traumatic cutaneous injuries. This product is designed to contain elevated levels of naturally-occurring antimicrobial peptides in the context of a fully-stratified skin substitute that is ready to use and stable at ambient temperatures. During Phase I of the project, procedures will be developed to format Stratatech’s existing antimicrobial skin substitute for ambient storage. Efforts will focus on preserving tissue architecture and strength, as well as maintaining the antimicrobial properties required in the final product. In Phase II, the antimicrobial properties of EpiReadyDefense™ will be determined in an established animal model of burn wound infection. Phase II studies will also include preclinical safety studies that will be required to support ultimate clinical evaluation and approval of EpiReadyDefense™ tissue.