Selenium secures NIH grant to apply patented antimicrobial technology for ear infections

Nov 18 2010

Selenium, Ltd., a biopharmaceutical company focused on unique solutions to meet antimicrobial coating and therapeutic needs, has been awarded a research grant from the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, one of the National Institutes of Health. With the $155,387 NIH grant the company will apply its proprietary antimicrobial technology to researching the inhibition of biofilms on tympanostomy tubes. Selenium's SeLECT^TM technology addresses the need for a safer, more effective and less costly antimicrobial coating technology that can reduce the risk of bacterial infection.

“The excellent results from Selenium's antimicrobial coating show significant promise in sustained protection of the ear tube surface from infection. An antimicrobial coating that can prevent bacterial colonization on implanted medical devices is a timely, critical breakthrough.”

Selenium, Ltd. President, Kris Looney, said, "This grant is the second one this year we received from the National Institutes of Health. The grants represent important milestones for Selenium confirming the validity and significance of our technology. SeLECT technology holds great potential for numerous medical applications, including improving the safety and efficacy of tympanostomy tubes by inhibiting biofilm formation."

"Keeping the ear free of bacterial contamination and biofilm growth on tympanostomy tubes is very important," explained Dr. John Griswold, MD, Professor and Chairman, Department of Surgery, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine. "The excellent results from Selenium's antimicrobial coating show significant promise in sustained protection of the ear tube surface from infection. An antimicrobial coating that can prevent bacterial colonization on implanted medical devices is a timely, critical breakthrough."

Ear infections are one of the most common illnesses among children, with annual direct and indirect costs of $3 billion to $5 billion in the United States. Treatment of recurring ear infections in children can include insertion of tympanostomy tubes, one of the most common surgical procedures performed in children. Tympanostomy tubes are tiny, hollow tube cylinders placed through the ear drum (tympanic membrane) to allow air into the middle ear.

A possible complication from the procedure is infection. Selenium's SeLECT^TM technology provides a natural antimicrobial coating for tympanostomy tubes engineered to safely and effectively combat the risk of bacterial infection.

Medical Device Coatings Target for Selenium

A "green technology," Selenium Ltd.'s proprietary chemistry is able to inhibit microbial growth on surfaces through a natural, safe catalytic reaction that does not leach chemicals or toxins into the surrounding environment. Target markets for SeLECT technology are medical device coatings and industrial coatings.

Selenium is uniquely positioned to take advantage of the strategic opportunities developing in the medical device coatings industry. According to a March 2010 report by US firm Global Industry Analysts, the world market for medical device coatings could exceed $7.5 billion by 2015.