Ultrasound-powered therapy to boost antibiotics for tough, biofilm-covered wounds
Official title: A theranostic ultrasound approach to improve chronic wound treatment using phase-change contrast agents
Funded at Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-11385540 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A doctor-research team is testing ultrasound-triggered delivery using phase-change contrast agents to help antibiotics treat chronic, biofilm-filled wounds.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project start | August 24, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $536,061 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI167978-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11385540 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with chronic wounds infected by bacteria who are candidates for antibiotic therapy and standard wound care.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without chronic wound infections or those not receiving antibiotic treatment may not benefit.
What this research studies
Chronic wounds infected with bacteria are a major health problem that costs billions and can lead to severe outcomes. The project uses ultrasound to activate tiny bubbles that carry antibiotics right to hard-to-reach bacteria in biofilms, aiming to improve drug penetration and bacterial killing. This approach builds on recent advances in sound-based delivery and targets infections that often cause amputation or sepsis. The study plans to test safety and how well this method can work alongside standard antibiotics in wound care.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this method could make antibiotics work better against stubborn wound infections and reduce hospitalizations and amputations.
How similar studies have gone: Previous similar ultrasound-based drug delivery approaches have shown encouraging results in other clinical applications but require confirmation for chronic wound infections.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Papadopoulou, Virginie — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Papadopoulou, Virginie
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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.