2421214
Project Grant
Overview
Grant Description
SBIR Phase I: An aerogel wound dressing material platform with mechanical fluid management, biofilm prevention, and pH based infection detection properties.
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is a novel wound dressing material for improving chronic wound care by mitigating several biological and microbial factors that affect healing.
Chronic wounds affect near 50 million patients in developed countries, often leading to persistent infections, prolonged inflammation, and increased healthcare costs.
Approximately 80% of infections are associated with bacterial biofilms that delay healing and require frequent interventions.
Current solutions often rely on reactive infection management and frequent dressing changes.
This project proposes a novel wound dressing with optimal porosity to enable oxygen exchange while creating a pathogen barrier, integrated with real-time detection of infection indicated by a rapid color change.
The platform offers a potential solution for improving the management of acute wounds, chronic wounds, surgical sites, and burn, with a total estimated $200M annual market.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project seeks to develop and validate an aerogel-based biomaterial combining fluid management, biofilm prevention, and rapid infection detection properties into a single platform.
The innovation relies on the integration of a biopolymer aerogel material with a multi-layer design.
The primary layer aims to promote tissue regeneration while blocking microbial infiltration, and the secondary layer aims to absorb wound fluid while providing a visual indicator of infection.
The proposed technology development will optimize the aerogel’s pore structure for effective biofilm prevention, refine the infection-sensing mechanism for reliable detection in under a minute, and ensure the mechanical durability needed for clinical use.
If successful, this project will demonstrate preclinical safety and effectiveness, with scalable pilot production methods for a prototype wound dressing material that reduces infection-related complications, minimizes dressing changes, and improves healing outcomes.
This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
Subawards are not planned for this award.
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is a novel wound dressing material for improving chronic wound care by mitigating several biological and microbial factors that affect healing.
Chronic wounds affect near 50 million patients in developed countries, often leading to persistent infections, prolonged inflammation, and increased healthcare costs.
Approximately 80% of infections are associated with bacterial biofilms that delay healing and require frequent interventions.
Current solutions often rely on reactive infection management and frequent dressing changes.
This project proposes a novel wound dressing with optimal porosity to enable oxygen exchange while creating a pathogen barrier, integrated with real-time detection of infection indicated by a rapid color change.
The platform offers a potential solution for improving the management of acute wounds, chronic wounds, surgical sites, and burn, with a total estimated $200M annual market.
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project seeks to develop and validate an aerogel-based biomaterial combining fluid management, biofilm prevention, and rapid infection detection properties into a single platform.
The innovation relies on the integration of a biopolymer aerogel material with a multi-layer design.
The primary layer aims to promote tissue regeneration while blocking microbial infiltration, and the secondary layer aims to absorb wound fluid while providing a visual indicator of infection.
The proposed technology development will optimize the aerogel’s pore structure for effective biofilm prevention, refine the infection-sensing mechanism for reliable detection in under a minute, and ensure the mechanical durability needed for clinical use.
If successful, this project will demonstrate preclinical safety and effectiveness, with scalable pilot production methods for a prototype wound dressing material that reduces infection-related complications, minimizes dressing changes, and improves healing outcomes.
This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
Subawards are not planned for this award.
Awardee
Funding Goals
THE GOAL OF THIS FUNDING OPPORTUNITY, "NSF SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH (SBIR)/ SMALL BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER (STTR) PROGRAMS PHASE I", IS IDENTIFIED IN THE LINK: HTTPS://WWW.NSF.GOV/PUBLICATIONS/PUB_SUMM.JSP?ODS_KEY=NSF23515
Grant Program (CFDA)
Awarding / Funding Agency
Place of Performance
Alliance,
Ohio
44601-1114
United States
Geographic Scope
Single Zip Code
Auxilium Health was awarded
Project Grant 2421214
worth $275,000
from National Science Foundation in March 2025 with work to be completed primarily in Alliance Ohio United States.
The grant
has a duration of 1 year and
was awarded through assistance program 47.084 NSF Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships.
The Project Grant was awarded through grant opportunity NSF Small Business Innovation Research / Small Business Technology Transfer Phase I Programs.
SBIR Details
Research Type
SBIR Phase I
Title
SBIR Phase I: An Aerogel Wound Dressing Material Platform with Mechanical Fluid Management, Biofilm Prevention, and pH based Infection Detection Properties
Abstract
The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is a novel wound dressing material for improving chronic wound care by mitigating several biological and microbial factors that affect healing. Chronic wounds affect near 50 million patients in developed countries often leading to persistent infections, prolonged inflammation, and increased healthcare costs. Approximately 80% of infections are associated with bacterial biofilms that delay healing and require frequent interventions. Current solutions often rely on reactive infection management and frequent dressing changes. This project proposes a novel wound dressing with optimal porosity to enable oxygen exchange while creating a pathogen barrier, integrated with real-time detection of infection indicated by a rapid color change. The platform offers a potential solution for improving the management of acute wounds, chronic wounds, surgical sites, and burn, with a total estimated $200M annual market. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project seeks to develop and validate an aerogel-based biomaterial combining fluid management, biofilm prevention, and rapid infection detection properties into a single platform. The innovation relies on the integration of a biopolymer aerogel material with a multi-layer design. The primary layer aims to promote tissue regeneration while blocking microbial infiltration, and the secondary layer aims to absorb wound fluid while providing a visual indicator of infection. The proposed technology development will optimize the aerogel’s pore structure for effective biofilm prevention, refine the infection-sensing mechanism for reliable detection in under a minute, and ensure the mechanical durability needed for clinical use. If successful this project will demonstrate preclinical safety and effectiveness, with scalable pilot production methods for a prototype wound dressing material, that reduces infection-relate
Topic Code
MD
Solicitation Number
NSF 23-515
Status
(Ongoing)
Last Modified 2/20/25
Period of Performance
3/1/25
Start Date
2/28/26
End Date
Funding Split
$275.0K
Federal Obligation
$0.0
Non-Federal Obligation
$275.0K
Total Obligated
Activity Timeline
Additional Detail
Award ID FAIN
2421214
SAI Number
None
Award ID URI
SAI EXEMPT
Awardee Classifications
Small Business
Awarding Office
491503 TRANSLATIONAL IMPACTS
Funding Office
491503 TRANSLATIONAL IMPACTS
Awardee UEI
W5KRHVSVG2B7
Awardee CAGE
9SP32
Performance District
OH-06
Senators
Sherrod Brown
J.D. (James) Vance
J.D. (James) Vance
Modified: 2/20/25