Royal Society of Chemistry Identifies NIMBUS®
as a
Next-Generation Biomaterial
Quick-Med Technologies, Inc. Recognized for its
Development of “Smarter Wound Treatments”
Gainesville, Florida – March 17, 2009 – Chemistry World, a publication of Great
Britain’s distinguished Royal Society of Chemistry, has cited Quick-Med’s novel
NIMBUS® antimicrobial materials technology as “next generation” in advanced wound
care. The article, which appears in the March 2009 edition of this prestigious publication,
is entitled “Molecular Healing” and profiles how biomaterials engineers are leveraging
the chemistry behind the healing process to create a new generation of “smarter wound
treatments.”
The Chemistry World article features NIMBUS, which coincidentally received clearance
by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as the article was going to press, as the first
bound antimicrobial material available in a wound dressing. NIMBUS is a platform
technology that employs a large polyquaternary biocide which is irreversibly bonded to
any of several materials such as cotton, rayon and polyurethane for use in wound care
products.
NIMBUS is unique in that it is a sterile bacterial barrier that prohibits the transfer of
microorganisms into the wound because the microbicidal agent is permanently bound to
the dressing. NIMBUS is non-toxic, long-lasting and not blocked by organics such as
blood, urine and perspiration. Product labeling has been allowed that indicates various
organisms such as MRSA, VRE, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli are killed
at levels exceeding 99.999%.
“Traditional wound dressings absorb fluid from the wound and act as a great incubator
for bacteria that are shed back into the wound,” says Gregory Schultz, Professor, Institute
for Wound Research at the University of Florida and Past President of the Wound
Healing Society. “This [NIMBUS] is the first bound, antimicrobial material – rather than
delivering an antimicrobial into the wound, it creates a barrier that won’t allow bacteria
to penetrate the dressing or grow in the wound fluid.”
The article also reports that Quick-Med’s scientists are already developing the same
bound NIMBUS polymer for the sustained release of additional molecules. One project in
the late stages of development is NIMBUS combined with a protease inhibitor. This
inhibitor blocks the action of the protease enzymes, which are highly elevated in chronic
wounds and destroy collagen and other proteins that are essential for healing. This greatly
slows down the healing process.
NIMBUS Available in June
As the Chemistry World article was going to press, steps were already underway to
initiate marketing. NIMBUS barrier gauze will be available from Derma Sciences, sold
under license from Quick-Med as a sterile barrier for use as a primary dressing for
exuding wounds, first and second degree burns and surgical wounds. NIMBUS is
expected to be launched in June 2009 and will be marketed under Derma Sciences’
BIOGUARD trademark.
NIMBUS poses no danger of bacteria developing resistance, or of releasing toxic
material into the wound and impeding the wound healing process. It is a novel
antimicrobial technology: bonded and effective even in high concentrations of body
fluids.
About Chemistry World
Chemistry World and its sister publication Chemistry World: China are read by 65,000
scientists every month. (www.rsc.org/chemistryworld)
About the Royal Society of Chemistry
The Royal Society of Chemistry is Europe’s largest organization for the advancement of
chemical sciences and is supported by a worldwide network of members. (www.rsc.org)
|
