A novel, reverse-phase-shifting, thermoreversible foaming hydrogel containing antibiotics for the treatment of thermal burns in a swine model – A pilot study

• Published in: Burns Vol. 50; no. 6; pp. 1578 - 1585
• Main Authors: Donaldson, Ross I., Armstrong, Jonathan K., Buchanan, Oliver J., Graham, Todd L., Cambridge, John S., Cristerna, Nely N., Goldenberg, Diane, Tanen, Captain David A., Fisher, Timothy C., Tolles, Juliana, Burns, Christopher J., Ross, James D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Ltd 01.08.2024
• Subjects: Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents - therapeutic use; Anti-Infective Agents, Local - therapeutic use; Bandages; Burns - drug therapy; Burns - microbiology; Burns - pathology; Disease Models, Animal; Hydrogel; Hydrogels - therapeutic use; Injury; Necrosis; Pilot Projects; Random Allocation; Silver Sulfadiazine - therapeutic use; Swine; Thermal; Thermoreversible; Wound Healing - drug effects; Wound Infection - drug therapy; Wound Infection - prevention & control; Thermoreversible; Hydrogel; Swine; Injury; Thermal
• ISSN: 0305-4179; 1879-1409; 1879-1409
• DOI: 10.1016/j.burns.2024.03.018

This study compared a novel topical hydrogel burn dressing (CI-PRJ012) to standard of care (silver sulfadiazine) and to untreated control in a swine thermal burn model, to assess for wound healing properties both in the presence and absence of concomitant bacterial inoculation. Eight equal burn wounds were created on six Yorkshire swine. Half the wounds were randomized to post-burn bacterial inoculation. Wounds were subsequently randomized to three treatments groups: no intervention, CI-PRJ012, or silver sulfadiazine cream. At study end, a blinded pathologist evaluated wounds for necrosis and bacterial colonization. When comparing CI-PRJ012 and silver sulfadiazine cream to no treatment, both agents significantly reduced the amount of necrosis and bacteria at 7 days after wound creation (p < 0.01, independently for both). Further, CI-PRJ012 was found to be significantly better than silver sulfadiazine (p < 0.02) in reducing bacterial colonization. For wound necrosis, no significant difference was found between silver sulfadiazine cream and CI-PRJ012 (p = 0.33). CI-PRJ012 decreases necrosis and bacterial colonization compared to no treatment in a swine model. CI-PRJ012 appeared to perform comparably to silver sulfadiazine. CI-PRJ012, which is easily removed with the application of room-temperature water, may provide clinical advantages over silver sulfadiazine. ●Novel hydrogel burn dressing (CI-PRJ012) efficacy assessed in a swine burn model.●CI-PRJ012 and standard of care reduced necrosis and bacteria compared to no treatment.●CI-PRJ012 found to be better than standard of care in reducing bacterial colonization.●CI-PRJ012 is easily removed and may provide clinical advantages over standard of care.