Healthcare
Our technology has a range of anti-biofilm applications across the dental, medical and veterinary healthcare environments.
Healthcare
Lactam technology has a range of anti-biofilm applications across the dental, medical and veterinary healthcare environments.
Dental
Dental plaque is an example of a typical biofilm composed of a complex microbial community. Plaque is the contributing agent for major dental diseases such as dental caries and periodontal disease. The clinical picture of these diseases is a net result of the communication between the pathogenic dental plaque biofilm and the host tissue response. In the healthy state, both plaque biofilm and adjacent tissues maintain a delicate balance, however changes occur during the disease process that transform this ‘healthy’ dental plaque into a ‘pathogenic’ biofilm.
Biofilm formation is also a problem for dental implants and devices such as religners, causing infection, discomfort, odour and implant failure.
Penrhos has a number of licences and sub-licences in the dental space and first products are expected to be launched in 2023.
Dental
Dental plaque is an example of a typical biofilm composed of a complex microbial community. Plaque is the contributing agent for major dental diseases such as dental caries and periodontal disease. The clinical picture of these diseases is a net result of the communication between the pathogenic dental plaque biofilm and the host tissue response. In the healthy state, both plaque biofilm and adjacent tissues maintain a delicate balance, however changes occur during the disease process that transform this ‘healthy’ dental plaque into a ‘pathogenic’ biofilm.
Biofilm formation is also a problem for dental implants and devices such as religners, causing infection, discomfort, odour and implant failure.
Penrhos has a number of licences and sub-licences in the dental space and first products are expected to be launched in 2023.
Medical
In Healthcare, biofilm formation by pathogenic microbial species not only protects them from host immune defenses and antimicrobial agents, but also contributes to development of antimicrobial resistance.
For example, biofilms are often a component of chronic and non-healing wounds such as diabetic ulcers.
They present a challenge for eradication and removal, either by the host immune system, or by medical intervention. Biofilms promote a chronic inflammatory state within the wound which affects healing, and is especially significant in chronic wounds such as diabetic foot ulcers. Chronic wounds are a major and growing global public health challenge, costing the NHS over £5bn p/a. Current therapies are limited, but most effective are wound dressings.
Medical
In Healthcare, biofilm formation by pathogenic microbial species not only protects them from host immune defenses and antimicrobial agents, but also contributes to development of antimicrobial resistance.
For example, biofilms are often a component of chronic and non-healing wounds such as diabetic ulcers.
They present a challenge for eradication and removal, either by the host immune system, or by medical intervention. Biofilms promote a chronic inflammatory state within the wound which affects healing, and is especially significant in chronic wounds such as diabetic foot ulcers. Chronic wounds are a major and growing global public health challenge, costing the NHS over £5bn p/a. Current therapies are limited, but most effective are wound dressings.
Veterinary
A vast array of pathogenic microorganisms frequently comes into contact with various surfaces in animal habitats. This poses a serious challenge to the human food industry through contamination and spoilage of food, but also to the health and wellbeing of the animals themselves. In addition, many of the pathogens are zoonotic and there is a threat to the handlers and owners of these animals.
Veterinary
A vast array of pathogenic microorganisms frequently comes into contact with various surfaces in animal habitats,
whether on the farm or in the home.
Veterinary
A vast array of pathogenic microorganisms frequently comes into contact with various surfaces in animal habitats, whether on the farm or in the home.
For food animal production, this poses a serious challenge to the human food industry through contamination and spoilage of food, but also to the health and wellbeing of the animals themselves. In addition, many of the pathogens are zoonotic and there is a threat to the handlers and owners of these animals.
The scale of the industry, and importance of the supply of food, means that there has been extensive veterinary use of antimicrobial agents to treat livestock, a factor considered to have contributed significantly to the development of antimicrobial resistance. In addition, on farms, there is a wide use of cleaning agents and disinfectants that risk environmental contamination and entry to the food chain.
For domestic animals such as cats and dogs, biofilms are also a problem both to the pet but also the owner. The domestic pet market grew substantially during the Pandemic and continues to do so as the role of pets in wellbeing becomes becoming better understood. Biofilm associated diseases are common and problematic in domesticated species and include common but costly conditions such as chronic skin disease in the dog and dental disease in both dogs and cats. Again, the ability to prevent these diseases in a safe and sustainable way is an unmet market need.
For food animal production, this poses a serious challenge to the human food industry through contamination and spoilage of food, but also to the health and wellbeing of the animals themselves. In addition, many of the pathogens are zoonotic and there is a threat to the handlers and owners of these animals.
The scale of the industry, and importance of the supply of food, means that there has been extensive veterinary use of antimicrobial agents to treat livestock, a factor considered to have contributed significantly to the development of antimicrobial resistance. In addition, on farms, there is a wide use of cleaning agents and disinfectants that risk environmental contamination and entry to the food chain.
For domestic animals such as cats and dogs, biofilms are also a problem both to the pet but also the owner. The domestic pet market grew substantially during the Pandemic and continues to do so as the role of pets in wellbeing becomes better understood. Biofilm associated diseases are common and problematic in domesticated species and include common but costly conditions such as chronic skin disease in the dog and dental disease in both dogs and cats. Again, the ability to prevent these diseases in a safe and sustainable way is an unmet market need.