SBIR/STTR Award attributes
The proposal seeks to initiate the development of a tetraethyl orthosilicate based thixotropic antibiotic delivery systems for the treatment of otitis externa and prevention of malignant otitis externaThis study will set the foundation for the development of point of caresingle application thixotropic drug delivery platform technologies for otic therapeutics PROJECT SUMMARY Outer ear infectionsotitis externa or OEaffect an estimatedof people in their lifetimewith associated healthcare costs amounting to over $million per yearThe pathology is mostly treatable in the general population with topical antibiotics regimesand can be supplemented in severe cases with systemic counterpartsHoweverincorrect application or non compliance with the administration schedule of antibiotics leads to infection persistencerecurrence and potentiallythe development of antibiotic resistant bacterial strainsIn diabetic or elderly patientsthe infection can be life threatening as it can progress into necrotizing or malignant otitis externaMOEwith severe health consequencesIn recent yearsthe incidence rate of MOE has seen a significant increase and has been associated with antibiotic resistant bacterial strainsThere isthereforea critical need to develop safe and effective therapies for the treatment of OE and the prevention of MOEWith this proposalwe seek to initiate the development of an ototopical antibiotic delivery system that is liquid when shaken and can be deployed easily though a syringe or drop dispenseryet that gels rapidly in place once the shear stress is removedSuch a delivery system would have the benefits of simple and effective topical applicationwould eliminate the risk of antibiotic administration regime noncomplianceand would enable the delivery in situ of active components at effective concentrationsWe have already demonstrated that in in vitro assays tetraethyl orthosilicate thixotropic hydrogelswhen loaded with an antibioticare fully inhibiting the growth of Paeruginosa and Saureusthe two bacterial strains prevalently associated with OE and MOEWe will test the biocompatibility of thixogels in standardized irritability and corrosion assays and investigate their ability to deliver a panel of standard antibiotics targeting both drug susceptible and drug resistant Paeruginosa and Saureus strainsThese studies will set the foundation of Phase IIwell informed safety and effectiveness in vivo studies in animal models
