An antimicrobial-eluting bioresorbable bone filler for orthopaedic application

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The long-term goal of Carmell Therapeutics for this proposal is to develop a blood plasma-based biomaterial bone filler product that will elute antimicrobials to inhibit infection. Bacterial contamination is present perioperatively in 48-68% o all open wounds and 100% of severe open injuries. Per year in the U.S. ~ 123,000 open tibia fractures are contaminated, requiring an added patient treatment cost of 29,000. Additional indirect costs (Worker's Compensation, lost wages, productivity, etc.) are enormous but harder to quantify. Current standard of care involves systemic antibiotics, early debridement, and the off-label, prophylactic use of local antibiotic delivery via impregnated poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) beads, which have unknown release kinetics and must be removed from the defect prior to bone reduction procedures. Clinicians need a product that enhances bone repair as well as controls infection through local antibiotic delivery. Carmell believes that co