Using 3D printing to create catheters that prevent urinary tract infections
Official title: 3D-bioprinting of probiotic bacterial interference catheters for prevention of catheter-associated urinary tract infections
Funded at Washington University · NIH-11065501 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new type of catheter that uses friendly bacteria to help prevent urinary tract infections for people who need to use catheters, making it a safer option for them.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project start | April 4, 2024 |
| Project end | January 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $580,691 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK139034-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11065501 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults who require catheterization and are at risk for urinary tract infections.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not require catheterization or have contraindications to probiotic use may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a new type of catheter that incorporates probiotics to prevent catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs). By utilizing 3D bioprinting technology, the researchers aim to create catheters that can deliver live Lactobacillus probiotics, which may help to outcompete harmful bacteria and reduce infection rates. The study will assess the effectiveness of these bioprinted catheters in maintaining probiotic viability and their ability to release antimicrobial compounds over time. Patients who use catheters may benefit from this innovative approach to infection prevention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly reduce the incidence of urinary tract infections in catheterized patients, leading to better health outcomes and lower healthcare costs.
How similar studies have gone: While the use of probiotics for infection prevention is promising, this specific application of 3D bioprinting for catheter development is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested in prior research.
Where this research is happening
-
Washington University
Saint Louis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gilbert, Nicole Marie — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Gilbert, Nicole Marie
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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A small grant is exploring how two enzymes from Enterococcus faecalis interact with the urine environment to drive catheter-associated urinary tract infections and why these infections are hard to treat.
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Researchers are exploring how bacteria steal nutrients in the bladder and how the body fights them to help people with urinary tract infections.
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New oral antifungal for tough Candida UTIs
A Johns Hopkins team is testing a new oral antifungal medicine called fungerps to treat urinary tract infections caused by azole-resistant Candida fungi.
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.