Project
Coating to prevent infections and blockage of catheters applied in implantable cerebrospinal fluid drainage systems.
Project description
Project concerns obtaining a biopassive coating inside commercial catethers for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) drainage, the function of which will be to prevent bacterial infections and blockages in the catethers. This is a unique product that has no equivalent on the current market. A typical treatment for hydrocephalus is the surgical implantation of a drainage system that evacuate excess fluid into the peritoneum or heart. This procedure carries a high risk of infection and obstruction, which is life-threatening. The main causes of obstruction are infections in the ventricular catether and the adhesion and retention of glial cells. Currently, catethers impregnated with antibiotics or the addition of silver are applied, but they do not prevent occlusion with glial cells. The incidence of complications ranges from 2 to 20%. The current mortality rate due to drain blockage is as high as 8%. 84.5% of pediatric patients will require reoperation to replace a blocked drain within the first year after surgery. The project meets the need to search for new, safer solutions. The research involves the development of a coating for the inner surface of silicone catethers that has both antibacterial properties and prevents blockages caused by cell retention. It is planned to develop at least one type of hydrogel coating with prolonged release of the antibacterial agent against bacterial that are the most common cause of infection, and preventing the adhesion of proteins and glial cells, which will be evaluated in vitro. It is assumed that the obtained coating will not change the permeability of the drains or their mechanical properties, will not have a cytotoxic effect and will be resistant to sterilization and flow conditions similar to physiological ones. Coatings will meet the sterility and cytotoxicity requirements specified in the standards for commercial medical devices.
Project no
LIDER15/0045/2024
Funding
Project funded by the National Centre for Research and Development under the LIDER XV programme
Leader
Warsaw University of Technology
Project value
1 695 910,00 PLN