Cold Plasma to Treat Post-Surgical Orthopedic Infection
Lead Research Organisation:
Queen's University Belfast
Department Name: UNLISTED
Abstract
Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
Technical Summary
Orthopaedic infection is life-threatening and current treatments are only sparingly successful. Despite aggressive peri-operative antibiotic treatments, 1.5% of knee revisions, 0.7 to 11.9%, of spinal infections (depending on the complexity of the procedure) and up to 27% of open fractures become infected. Moreover, the complexity of tissues interfacing with the biofilm-prone orthopaedic instrumentation complicates bacterial eradication making current treatments prolonged and expensive. To address this serious issue, we propose to combat the infection using cold plasma and cold plasma activated liquid (PAL). Our pilot data show that these novel modalities can be tailored for high microbicidal activity coupled with immune stimulatory properties without the risk of antibiotic resistance. Importantly, these modalities have not been used to combat bone infections. To utilize this technology to address orthopaedic infection, a tri-partite consortium of international research teams at the forefront of cold plasma technology from the US, the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland have been assembled. This consortium unites expertise in plasma engineering, microbiology, material science, chemistry, cell biology, and clinical medicine. There are three Specific Aims. (1) To determine the effect of direct cold plasma treatment on MRSA biofilms and immune cell response; (2) To determine the mechanisms of action, and efficacy of Plasma Activated Liquid (PAL) alone and in combination with direct cold plasma treatment to eradicate infection; and (3) To resolve infection through combined cold plasma and PAL treatments in a clinically relevant animal model of infected osteotomy. We will develop cold plasma and PAL treatments that will directly disrupt biofilms and eradicate bacteria while stimulating the immune response. At the end of this study, we will have developed a simple and effective non-antibiotic treatment protocol to cure surgical site infection through combined immune activation and direct eradication of bacteria. Clinically, this cold plasma+PAL treatment protocol can be seamlessly integrated with existing clinical protocols to enhance and eventually replace our reliance on antibiotic therapies.
People |
ORCID iD |
Brendan Gilmore (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Heslin C
(2021)
Biomolecules as Model Indicators of In Vitro and In Vivo Cold Plasma Safety.
in Frontiers in physics
Upadrasta A
(2023)
In situ generation of cold atmospheric plasma-activated mist and its biocidal activity against surrogate viruses for COVID-19.
in Journal of applied microbiology
Alshraiedeh N
(2020)
Extracellular polymeric substance-mediated tolerance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms to atmospheric pressure nonthermal plasma treatment
in Plasma Processes and Polymers
Description | SFI-DfE (NI) COVID-19 Research Call 2020 COVID-19 and the environment. Plasma-enabled fogging for safe and effective surface decontamination' |
Amount | € 313,602 (EUR) |
Organisation | Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | Ireland |
Start | 09/2020 |
End | 08/2022 |
Description | Submission of European Joint Doctorate Application to Horizon2020 |
Organisation | University College Dublin |
Department | School of Biology and Environmental Science |
Country | Ireland |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Prof Brendan Gilmore was a co-PI on a European Joint Doctorate Scheme application with Prof Paula Bourke (UCD) and Prof Jan van Impe (KU Leuven) entitled 'i4Plasmas - Innovative Plasma Science and technology for Sustainable agrifood SystemS' in January 2020 (pending review and decision in 2020) H2020-MSCA-ITN-2020 The research doctoral degree will be awarded to those Marie Sklodowska-Curie researchers who will fulfil, at the end of their research work, the requirements as set out in the formal agreement to establish the double research doctoral degree between the relevant participating organisations. |
Collaborator Contribution | KU Leuven and UCD will equally support the recruitment and will participate and contribute to the research, innovation and training activities as planned in this project |
Impact | No outputs as yet, beyond submission of a major grant application to the H2020-MSCA-ITN-2020 scheme |
Start Year | 2020 |
Description | Submission of European Joint Doctorate Application to Horizon2020 |
Organisation | University of Leuven |
Country | Belgium |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Prof Brendan Gilmore was a co-PI on a European Joint Doctorate Scheme application with Prof Paula Bourke (UCD) and Prof Jan van Impe (KU Leuven) entitled 'i4Plasmas - Innovative Plasma Science and technology for Sustainable agrifood SystemS' in January 2020 (pending review and decision in 2020) H2020-MSCA-ITN-2020 The research doctoral degree will be awarded to those Marie Sklodowska-Curie researchers who will fulfil, at the end of their research work, the requirements as set out in the formal agreement to establish the double research doctoral degree between the relevant participating organisations. |
Collaborator Contribution | KU Leuven and UCD will equally support the recruitment and will participate and contribute to the research, innovation and training activities as planned in this project |
Impact | No outputs as yet, beyond submission of a major grant application to the H2020-MSCA-ITN-2020 scheme |
Start Year | 2020 |
Description | Webinar/Virtual Event for SafeFood Knowledge Network 'Cold Plasma Applications for Agri-Food' March 31st 2021 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Non thermal plasmas, or 'cold plasmas' are wholly or partially ionized gases, generated at or near ambient temperatures, which are investigated for their potential role in a variety of applications in biology. Cold plasmas contains a rich and diverse mixture of reactive chemical species (primarily reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, RONS) which can be harnessed for new applications in infection control, cancer treatment, contamination control and removal of harmful chemical residues. Cold plasmas can even be generated in liquids (plasma activated liquids) where they create unique chemical environments capable of replicating some of the biological activity of gaseous plasmas, such as microbial inactivation. In this presentation, the background to the development of cold plasmas for medical applications, their mechanisms and spectrum of activity and focus on the potential of cold plasmas for exploitation in the food and agricultural space is discussed, where their use in control of contamination, pathogens and spoilage organisms provides unique opportunities for this exciting technology. SafeFood is a government body responsible for providing information about food safety and healthy eating on the island of Ireland. To date the video, available on YouTube at the URL has had over 7K views |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://youtu.be/GquOg0c3ikc |