Anti-biofilm activity of two novel, borate based, bioactive glass wound dressings

Steven Jung,Amin Omar,Ted Day,Brenton Buziak,Tyler Boone

doi:10.1515/bglass-2019-0006

Abstract

Abstract Bioactive glass was first developed in the late 1960’s as a compound that would facilitate bone re-growth. In more recent years, this technology has been used to promote wound healing through its ability to stimulate soft tissue growth, angiogenesis, reduce inflammation, and prevent infection. Chronically infected wounds, which result from biofilm formation, affect millions of patients in the Unites States each year and cost billions of dollars to treat. The present studies demonstrate exposure of pre-formed biofilms to bioactive glass, under simulated body conditions, resulted in significant reduction in bacterial load. Additionally, specific therapeutically active metal ions such as copper and zinc were added to a borate bioactive glass formulation through a process of ion doping and found to further enhance the anti-biofilm activity. Based on the present findings, the antibiofilm agents released by borate bioactive glasses may prove effective to eradicate the biofilm infections that prevent healing in patients with chronic wounds.

Highlights

Chronic wounds, which are largely thought to be caused at least in part a result of biofilm infection, affect millions of people in the United States and cost tens of billions of dollars to treat each year [1]
The present work contributes to a growing body of evidence that bioactive glass may contribute to improved soft tissue wound healing
Our results demonstrate that borate based bioactive glass is capable of eradicating pre-formed biofilms, from a variety of clinically relevant gram-negative, gram positive, and fungi organisms

Summary

Introduction

Chronic wounds, which are largely thought to be caused at least in part a result of biofilm infection, affect millions of people in the United States and cost tens of billions of dollars to treat each year [1]. Traditional treatment strategies for chronically infected wounds include antibiotic therapies, and frequent debridement to remove biofilm mass; infections that persist despite these therapies often require surgical intervention such as debridement, or possibly amputation to be completely resolved [7]. Bioactive glasses are biocompatible water soluble materials that release their ionic constituents when placed in body fluids. Ions such as calcium and phosphorus react form a calcium apatite material similar to the hydroxyapatite component of hard tissues such as bone and teeth in

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