Light-activated infection prevention for bone-anchored (osseointegrated) prosthetics
Advancing Antimicrobial Photodynamic Therapy to Prevent Infection in Osseointegrated Prosthesis Patients
This project uses a light-activated 5-ALA topical treatment to help prevent infections around bone-anchored prosthetic limbs for people with amputations.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Dartmouth-Hitchcock Clinic NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Lebanon, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11160505 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
People with bone-anchored (osseointegrated) prosthetic limbs face a high risk of infection where the implant passes through the skin. This project applies a topical photosensitizer (FDA-approved 5-aminolevulinic acid, 5-ALA) that microbes take up preferentially and then activates it with light to produce singlet oxygen that kills bacteria. Researchers will optimize dosing, light delivery, and safety in lab experiments and preclinical models to understand how well the approach clears microbes on implant surfaces and surrounding skin. The aim is to develop a practical, safe way to reduce infections and improve outcomes for people using osseointegrated prostheses.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with limb amputation who have, or plan to receive, a bone-anchored (osseointegrated) prosthesis.
Not a fit: Patients without an osseointegrated implant or those with deep systemic infections requiring systemic antibiotics or surgery may not receive direct benefit from this topical/light approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lower infection rates around bone-anchored implants and make osseointegrated prostheses safer and more widely available.
How similar studies have performed: Related antimicrobial photodynamic therapy using 5-ALA has shown antibacterial effects in lab studies and some clinical skin applications, but applying it specifically to osseointegrated implants is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Lebanon, United States
- Dartmouth-Hitchcock Clinic — Lebanon, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gitajn, Ida L — Dartmouth-Hitchcock Clinic
- Study coordinator: Gitajn, Ida L
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.