# Production of a dissolvable hydrogel-based wound dressing for second degree burns

> **NIH NIH R44** · IONIC PHARMACEUTICALS · 2022 · $866,742

## Abstract

ABSTRACT. This proposal describes the development of the HydrAid Burn Dressing—a novel hydrogel-based
wound dressing that absorbs exudate, protects the wound from bacterial infection and can be easily removed
from the surface of 2nd degree burns via dissolution thereby averting trauma to the wound and pain to the patient.
Burns are one of the most common and devastating forms of trauma. Millions of patients suffer burn-related
injuries each year and, while severe burns are less frequent, these patients may suffer disability, disfigurement
and psychological damage during and even after treatment. Changing of burn dressings is reported to be the
most painful time (after the initial burn) and opioids are the mainstay of pain mitigation for burn patients. The
duration of a burn dressing change in a typical injury requiring ICU/OR-level care is often 60+ minutes with
induction of general anesthesia and can extend to more than three hours. At present, commercially available
dressings adhere to the wound surface so that dressing changes lead to traumatization of newly formed tissues,
delayed healing and, in 2nd degree burns where nerve endings are still intact, excruciating pain for the patient.
Our solution to this problem is the HydrAid Burn Dressing. The HydrAid dressing is composed of an amine-
terminated dendron and a bifunctional NHS-activated PEG containing an internal thioester that react with each
other to form a thioester-linked hydrogel dressing that can be subsequently dissolved by exposure to an aqueous
thiol solution via a thiol-thioester exchange mechanism. Our successful Phase I work demonstrates: 1) our ability
to synthesize the HydrAid components; 2) absorption and swellability with exudate mimics; 3) lack of in vitro
cytotoxicity or macrophage activation; 4) on-demand removal by dissolution in vivo on a 2nd degree burn by
application of a cysteine methyl ester solution; 5) prevention of bacterial infections in 2nd degree burns in vivo;
6) comparable and trending superiority of healing compared to traditional bandages; and, 7) easy “spray-
on/spray-off” use in covering the intricate surfaces, digits, and webbing of a human hand. The ultimate goal of
the proposed project is to obtain 510(k) clearance for the HydrAid Burn Dressing. Aligned with this goal is the
completion of key Go/No-Go milestones in four primary product development categories: 1) Manufacturing, 2)
Bench and animal testing, 3) Human Factors (non-clinical) usability testing, and 4) Regulatory affairs. Aim 1:
Transfer production methods to Contract Manufacturing partners (PCI Synthesis) and perform an initial bottling
production run (Power Container Corp.) to provide finished product for evaluation in Aims 2 and 3. Aim 2: Confirm
HydrAid Burn Dressing superiority to conventional dressings in large surface area burns and perform relevant
ISO 10993 safety and biocompatibility testing. Aim 3: Conduct Human Factors and non-clinical usability testing
and develop labeling, incl...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10489409
- **Project number:** 5R44GM125412-03
- **Recipient organization:** IONIC PHARMACEUTICALS
- **Principal Investigator:** Aaron Henry Colby
- **Activity code:** R44 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $866,742
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-06-01 → 2025-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10489409

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10489409, Production of a dissolvable hydrogel-based wound dressing for second degree burns (5R44GM125412-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10489409. Licensed CC0.

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