Technology ID
TAB-3312

Methods to Regulate Biofilm Development to Prevent Infection on Indwelling or Implantable Medical Devices

E-Numbers
E-171-2013-0
Lead Inventor
Donlan, Rodney (CDC)
Co-Inventors
Garcia, Andres (Georgia Institute of Technology)
Lehman, Susan (Georgia Institute of Technology)
Applications
Therapeutics
Therapeutic Areas
Infectious Disease
Lead IC
CDC
ICs
CDC
Formation of biofilms (microorganisms) on medical devices is a common cause of infection and device replacement. For example, biofilm formation on urinary catheters is associated with the development of catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI), and recent studies indicate that approximately 9% of HAIs stem from CAUTI. Urinary catheters are also thought to be one of the largest reservoirs of nosocomial antibiotic-resistant pathogens. The related increases in patient morbidity, mortality, and costs with CAUTI are substantial.

CDC and partner researchers have designed methods for controlled attachment of bioactive bacteriophages to medical devices for reducing bacterial colonization and regulating biofilm development. With collaborators at the Georgia Institute of Technology, CDC has developed and patented a novel approach to covalently attach bacteriophages to hydrogel-coated catheters. These tethered bacteriophages can reduce bacterial attachment and biofilm formation on the catheter surface. Additional formulations could be developed for a range of other indwelling or implanted medical devices such as stents, shunts, feeding tubes, and artificial joints and maximal impact on infections could be achieved using a diverse cocktail of relatively broad host-ranged phages.
Commercial Applications
  • Reduction of biofilm formation and microbial colonization on indwelling and implanted medical devices
Competitive Advantages
  • Natural, specific, infection-responsive approach
  • Effective against multi-drug resistant bacteria
  • Flexible technology applicable to various coatings/devices & phage strains or mixtures
  • Localization/retention of bioactive phage to device
Licensing Contact:
Mitzelfelt, Jeremiah
jeremiah.mitzelfelt@nih.gov