Presenter: Rose Godfrey, College of Medicine, Orthopaedics
Authors: Rose Godfrey, Jemi Ong, Joshua Tam, Lynn Drake, Paul Pasquina, Brad Isaacson, Dustin Williams
Faculty Advisor: Dustin Williams, College of Engineering, Biomedical Engineering
Institution: University of Utah
Wavelengths of light between 400-470 nm have been shown to stunt the growth of or kill bacteria. Using these wavelengths, referred to as antimicrobial blue light (aBL), we hypothesize that aBL will be a feasible method of controlling biofilm infection by itself or as part of a combinatorial therapy with essential oils. Biofilms can complicate the skin-implant interface of osseointegrated (OI) implants in lower leg amputees, in part due to epithelial downgrowth. We performed in vitro analysis to translate aBL and combination therapies toward an animal model that mimics a percutaneous skin-implant interface. Staphylococcus aureus biofilms commonly affect OI implant infections. Among clove, thyme, and oregano, data showed that a 10% concentration of oregano resulted in the most reliable elimination of S. aureus with an 8-log decrease in colony forming units (CFUs). Currently, we are performing ex vivo experiments to determine the J/cm^2 for the in vivo aBL studies; early results indicate 900 J/cm^2 may eradicate biofilms on skin surfaces. Combinatorial therapies of the oils and aBL will help explore the potential of aBL as an antimicrobial therapy in vivo.