Controlled release of bacteriophages and antibiotics using hydrogels to treat infections

Stanford researchers have developed aldehyde-containing hydrogels that release bacteriophage, with or without antibiotics, over a controlled and sustained manner to treat infections including orthopedic joint infections, wound infections, ear infections (chronic suppurative otitis media), and osteomyelitis.

Antibiotics alone are unable to treat multidrug resistant infections. Bacteriophage, viruses that kill bacteria with high specificity, offer an alternative approach to treating infections. However, intravenous or bolus delivery of bacteriophage has not been effective due to lack of local targeting over long times. This invention addresses this challenge by delivering bacteriophage locally with hydrogels in a sustained manner. Dynamic imine bonds between bacteriophage and the hydrogel mediate slow release of the bacteriophage and the release kinetics can be controlled by varying hydrogel composition.

Stage of Development
Pre-clinical

Related Technology:
Stanford Docket - S20-117 Controlled Release of Bacteriophage to Treat Implant Infections

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