ANN ARBOR, Mich.—Treating second-degree burns with a nanoemulsion lotion sharply curbed bacterial growth and reduced inflammation that otherwise can jeopardize recovery, according to initial laboratory studies from scientists at the University of Michigan.
U-M burn surgeon Mark R. Hemmila, M.D., reported at the Interscience Conference for Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy on results achieved with a nanoemulsion developed at U-M and licensed by U-M to Ann Arbor-based NanoBio Corp.
The nanoemulsion showed promise in overcoming the limitations of current creams used in burn treatment, which aren’t able to penetrate skin to kill sub-surface bacteria and don’t have a strong effect on inflammation, said Hemmila, associate professor of surgery at the U-M Medical School.
The scientists used the nanoemulsion to treat partial thickness burns, better known as second degree burns, over 20 percent of the body, to test its effectiveness in the type of injuries doctors commonly see in people brought to tertiary hospital trauma and burn centers. Such burn victims typically require aggressive treatment in intensive care both to rein in infection and to try to prevent vital fluids from leaking from blood vessels into the damaged skin, a dangerous situation caused in part by excessive inflammation within the body.
The nanoemulsion appeared to reduce the action of two inflammatory agents or cytokines that play a role in cell signaling during this critical post-burn period. Slowing this action may prevent initial burn damage from becoming worse, and thus reduce the severity of the burn and extent of skin grafting needed, said Hemmila.