(LR-019) Physico-chemical interaction of a debriding acid with biofilm

Carlo Bignozzi, Prof. – Head, Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Science, University of Ferrara

Introduction: Biofilms are detrimental to wound healing and need to be removed. A new gel, containing a strong acid (MSA), is aimed at replacing surgical debridement in certain indications. Similar to surgery, the compounds acts rapidly and, typically, one application is enough. In contrast to surgery, however, no specific and high-level expertise is necessary for usage and there is not need for an operation room.

Methods: Biofilms consist of microbial aggregates within an extracellular matrix of proteins, glycoproteins, and polysaccharides. 97% of the matrix is water however: when the acid, while diffusing through the biofilm, comes in contact with this water, an exothermic dissociation (CH₃SO₃H -- CH₃SO₃ ^- + H ⁺) occurs, producing an amount of energy of approximately 1500 KJ/mol.

This energy is re-adsorbed by the molecular components (in the biofilm) and causes atomic bonds, that typically have a dissociation energy level that is considerably lower that 1500 KJ/mol, to break. Consequently, proteins and the bacterial wall are denatured, and bacterial cells die via osmosis.

This process is similar to cauterization but only acts on the biofilm, not on the skin surrounding the lesion with the biofilm: the stratum corneum of the normal skin has not enough water to activate MSA dissociation on a relevant scale.



Results: In several clinical trials, the efficacy of using MSA for debridement has been proven, resulting in a wound bed that allows for quick development of granulations tissue, an essential step towards healing.

Discussion: