Micro-robots that help heal infected wounds
Self-Locomotive Antimicrobial Micro-Robot (SLAM) Enhancing Biofilm-Infected Wound Healing
This study is testing a tiny robot that can help clean infected wounds by breaking down stubborn bacteria layers, which could be really helpful for people with chronic wounds that are hard to heal.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Champaign, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11065541 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a self-locomotive antimicrobial micro-robot (SLAM) designed to effectively target and remove biofilm from infected wounds. Biofilm is a protective layer formed by bacteria that makes infections difficult to treat, leading to prolonged healing times. The SLAM micro-robot uses a unique mechanism to generate oxygen microbubbles that help break down biofilm, allowing for better penetration and removal of harmful bacteria. Patients with chronic wounds caused by biofilm-associated infections may benefit from this innovative approach to wound healing.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are patients with chronic wounds that are infected with biofilm-forming bacteria.
Not a fit: Patients with wounds that are not associated with biofilm infections may not receive any benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly improve wound healing outcomes for patients suffering from biofilm-related infections.
How similar studies have performed: While the use of micro-robots in medical applications is a novel approach, similar technologies have shown promise in other areas of infection management.
Where this research is happening
Champaign, United States
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign — Champaign, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kong, Hyunjoon — University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- Study coordinator: Kong, Hyunjoon
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.