Description:
OBJECTIVE: Develop a tailored wound dressing for the treatment of burned or severely damaged wounds which uses a unique protective coating. This dressing should be composed of a nano-thin layer of carbon deposit on a highly permeable silicone film. This wound dressing must allow the body to naturally grow news cells at the wound site and, at the same time, prevent the growth of bacteria. DESCRIPTION: Burns are among the most painful and debilitating battlefield wounds and often turn deadly if infection sets in. Since 2003, more than 8,000 U.S. Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines have sustained injuries from hostile action, of which approximately 700 sustained burns, inhalation injury, and associated trauma in Iraq or Afghanistan severe enough to warrant burn center care. Each of these patients was provided initial care at U.S. military field hospitals then transported by air from the theater of operations to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany for further assessment and stabilization. Combat burn casualties were then flown more than 5,300 miles to San Antonio for treatment of their burns and other injuries The greatest advantage of the desired wound dressing would be protecting a wounded combatant from further deterioration of the wound site. It would essentially allow the dressing to function as a temporary skin replacement. By initially stabilizing the patient as early as possible in the theater of battle, would increase the survivability rate of persons with severe burns and allow for a much more comfortable transport tot a medical facility. This technology, if successful, would also provide a speedier recovery from the injuries. PHASE I: Conduct a feasibility study of the effectiveness of nanomaterial coated silicone film for the treatment of burn and severely damaged wounds. The feasibility studies are to determine if the nanomaterial is bacteria proof and provides controlled oxygen transport through the dressing to assist in cell growth. PHASE II: Based on the Phase I feasibility study, develop, demonstrate and validate a laboratory prototype that enables direct and independent assessment of the effectiveness of nanomaterial coated silicone film for the treatment of burn and severely damaged wounds. With proper approval, during this phase, clinical trials will be conducted to demonstrate that the nanomaterial is bacteria proof and in fact does provide controlled oxygen transport through the dressing. Additionally, these trials should demonstrate that water vapor permeability is controlled to prevent loss of water moisture through the wound from the body. PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: The goal of the Phase III effort is transition to field operational use. Capability will be further matured to support/augment military expeditionary medicine as well as transition to general, non-military emergency medicine. REFERENCES: 1. Renz van M.,"Care of the Military Burn Trauma Casualty", San Antonio Medicine.Com, May 2008. 2. Sen, Soman MD; Greenhalgh, David MD; Palmieri, Tina MD.,"Journal of Burn Care & Research,"November/December 2010 - Volume 31 - Issue 6 - pp 836-848.
