Abstract: A solid wound dressing material comprising: at least about 5 wt % collagen; from about 6 wt % to about 9 wt % polyvinylpyrrolidone triiodide (PVP-I); and from 0 wt % to about 20 wt % water; wherein the weight percentages are based on the dry weight of the composition. Also provided are methods of making such materials, and wound dressings comprising such materials. In another aspect the invention provides a solid wound dressing material comprising: at least about 5 wt % collagen; from about 10 wt % to about 90 wt % Cadexomer iodine; and from 0 wt % to about 20 wt % water, wherein the weight percentages are based on the dry weight of the composition. Also provided are wound dressings comprising the materials.

Abstract: A wound dressing material comprising a polymeric substrate, a silver salt, and a dyestuff to photostabilize the silver salt. The substrate may comprise collagen and/or oxidized regenerated cellulose complexed to Ag+, and the dyestuff may for example be an aniline or acridine dye.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of p38 MAP kinase inhibitors and p38 MAP kinase inhibition to promote wound healing.

Abstract: A wound dressing material for controlled activation of a wound healing therapeutic compound in the presence of a protease enzyme in a wound fluid, the material comprising: a medically acceptable polymer; a wound healing therapeutic agent; an inhibitor of the protease enzyme; and a linker group which is cleavable by the protease enzyme, wherein the activities of both the wound healing therapeutic agent and the inhibitor are increased by contacting the wound dressing material with a wound fluid containing the protease enzyme. For example, the enzyme may be a matrix metalloproteinase, the therapeutic agent may be a reactive oxygen scavenger, and the inhibitor may be a tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP).

Abstract: A wound dressing composition comprising a non-viable cell lysate or releasate derived from a hepatocyte cell or an inflammatory cell such as a macrophage. Also provided are wound dressings comprising such compositions, methods of making such compositions, and the use of such compositions for the treatment of wounds.

Abstract: A method of treatment of a wound, said method comprising the step of injecting an effective amount of an oxygen-containing fluid into said wound at a location below a surface of said wound, said step of injecting being carried out through a conduit having one or more outlets for said fluid, wherein substantially all of said outlets are positioned below the surface of the wound during said step of injecting. Injection of oxygen directly into the wound tissue below the wound surface provides enhanced wound healing.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for the ultrasensitive detection of beta hemolytic Streptococcus, a bacterium implicated in strep throat, using a specific protease marker. Also disclosed is a device as well as a biosensor, both of which are useful for the detection of beta hemolytic Streptococcus. The biosensor and the device can be used in conjunction with other reagents as part of a kit for detecting strep throat.

Abstract: A wound dressing material comprising a polymeric substrate, a silver salt, and a dyestuff to photostabilize the silver salt. The substrate may comprise collagen and/or oxidized regenerated cellulose complexed to Ag+, and the dyestuff may for example be an aniline or acridine dye.

Abstract: The invention provides wound dressings comprising an absorbent (porous) hydrogel composition comprising a foam portion which comprises a flexible plasticized hydrophilic polymer matrix having an internal cellular structure, and a continuous portion which comprises a flexible plasticized hydrophilic polymer matrix having relatively continuous internal structure. The continuous portion of the hydrogel composition includes apertures providing fluid flow communication through the continuous portion between an external surface of the continuous portion and the foam portion whereby the foam portion can take up external water or other fluid into the cellular structure through the apertures of the continuous portion. The continuous portion of the hydrogel composition may be tacky to the skin, allowing its use as a bioadhesive.

Abstract: Described herein are methods of detecting a wound infection and for detecting the presence or absence of microorganisms, for example, wound pathogens in a sample, by contacting a sample with an enzyme produced and/or secreted by the bacteria, and detecting modification or the absence of modification of the substrate, as an indicator of the presence or absence of the enzyme in the sample. The present invention also features a biosensor for detecting the presence or absence of bacteria in a sample.

Abstract: Described herein are substrates, methods, articles, and kits that are useful for removing interferents from samples for diagnostic purposes. The interferents are removed with phosphocellulose and cation exchange materials. These materials could also be used in vitro to improve the performance of a diagnostic assay or in vivo to remove the interferents.

Abstract: Described herein are methods of detecting a wound infection and for detecting the presence or absence of bacteria, for example, wound bacteria in a sample, by contacting a sample with a peptide substrate derived from the modification of the reactive site loop (RSL) domain of the ? 1-proteinase inhibitor. In the current invention, we have demonstrated that these peptide substrates without the alpha 1 protein can be efficiently used as peptide substrates. The modification or the absence of modification of this peptide substrate by the enzyme produced and/or secreted by the bacteria, can serve as an indicator for the presence or absence of the bacteria in the sample. The present invention also features a biosensor for detecting the presence or absence of bacteria in a sample.

Abstract: Described herein are methods of detecting an infection and for detecting the presence or absence of microorganisms, for example, wound pathogens in a sample, by contacting a sample with an enzyme produced and/or secreted by the bacteria, and detecting modification or the absence of modification or the substrate, as an indicator of the presence or absence of the enzyme in the sample. The present invention also features a biosensor for detecting the presence or absence of bacteria in a sample.

Abstract: Described herein are methods of detecting a wound infection and for detecting the presence or absence of microorganisms, for example, wound pathogens in a sample, by contacting a sample with a cationic anti-microbial peptide that is degradable by an enzyme produced and/or secreted by a microorganism, and detecting degradation or the absence of degradation of the peptide, as an indicator of the presence or absence of the enzyme in the sample, and thus indicative of the presence or absence of a microorganism in the sample. The present invention also features a biosensor for detecting the presence or absence of a microorganism in a sample.

Abstract: An indicator device adapted give a detectable signal when the antioxidant capacity of a sample of a mammalian wound fluid exceeds a predetermined minimum level which is characteristic of an infected wound. Also provided system for use in the diagnosis and treatment of wounds comprising the inventive diagnostic device and a wound dressing comprising at least one antimicrobial agent for selective application to infected wounds. Also provided are methods of diagnosis and treatment by means of the inventive device and system.

Abstract: A wound dressing composition comprising a partially cured polyurethane fluid. The composition can be injected directly into a wound, where it cures to form a wound filling dressing. Also provided is a wound dressing comprising such a composition. Also provided is a kit for the preparation of such wound dressings, the kit comprising (a) a polyurethane prepolymer; and (b) a curing agent for the polyurethane prepolymer. Preferably, the polyurethane components comprise reaction products of a diisocyanate with castor oil or a related ester of ricinoleic acid or its derivatives.

Abstract: Described herein are methods of detecting an infection and for detecting the presence or absence of microorganisms, for example, wound pathogens in a sample, by contacting a sample with an enzyme produced and/or secreted by the bacteria, and detecting modification or the absence of modification of the substrate, as an indicator of the presence or absence of the enzyme in the sample. The present invention also features a biosensor for detecting the presence or absence of bacteria in a sample.

Abstract: A wound dressing comprising: an air-impermeable backing sheet having an aperture for attachment of a suction element; an air-permeable screen layer on a wound facing side of the backing sheet; and a substantially air-impermeable hydrogel layer extending across a wound facing side of said screen layer and joined in substantially airtight fashion to a periphery of said backing sheet around said screen layer. Also provided is a wound treatment system comprising a wound dressing according to the invention and a source of suction in fluid communication with said aperture.

Abstract: Described herein are methods of detecting a wound infection and for detecting the presence or absence of microorganisms, for example, wound pathogens in a sample, by contacting a sample with a cationic anti-microbial peptide that is degradable by an enzyme produced and/or secreted by a microorganism, and detecting degradation or the absence of degradation of the peptide, as an indicator of the presence or absence of the enzyme in the sample, and thus indicative of the presence or absence of a microorganism in the sample. The present invention also features a biosensor for detecting the presence or absence of a microorganism in a sample.

Abstract: A wound dressing material comprising: a wound dressing carrier, N-acetyl cysteine or a salt or derivative thereof, and a stabilized ascorbate. Suitably, the stabilized ascorbate comprises an ascorbate-2-polyphosphate. Also provided are wound dressing comprising the materials, methods of treatment with the materials, and methods of making the materials.