Technology

Next Science XBIO® Technology

Biofilms pose a far-reaching threat to humans, animals and the environment. The continuing rise in antimicrobial resistance necessitates effective diagnosis and management of biofilm-associated infections.1 Collectively, infections contribute to significant morbidity, mortality and increased healthcare expenditures.3

Biofilm, a Global Problem

Biofilms are powerful communities of bacteria that function as a single entity with behaviors and defenses that can produce chronic and recurrent infections.4,5 These bacteria are protected within a matrix, called the Extracellular Polymeric Substance (EPS) that adheres to surfaces and form biofilms in the human body, hospital rooms, on medical devices, surgical instruments, and other healthcare tools, posing potential infection risks.6,7 The EPS also creates a physical barrier obstructing the penetration of antimicrobials, making it difficult for such treatments to reach the biofilm bacteria for eradication and removal.8,9

According to the US National Institutes of Health, biofilms account for over 80 percent of microbial infections in the human body.10

Our Approach: XBIO Technology

XBIO Technology takes an innovative approach to solving the problem of bacterial biofilms. The unique, non-toxic technology attacks and deconstructs the structure of the biofilm by removing the metal ions that hold the EPS together. This exposes the bacteria within the biofilm, making them more vulnerable to eradication. Bacteria that are enveloped within the XBIO Technology are then destroyed by the combination of a surfactant and high osmotic imbalance across the bacterial cell wall. XBIO Technology’s broad spectrum efficacy helps defend from biofilm reformation, reducing the rate of reoccurrence by over 100X.11Due to this unique mechanism of action there is no known resistance to XBIO Technology.

Watch the video to see the XBIO Technology’s Mechanism of Action.

The Rise in Antibiotic Resistance

Bacteria in biofilms can become up to 1000X more resistant to antibiotics and biocides when compared to planktonic bacteria.20 Biofilm-based infections and antimicrobial resistance are on the rise, leading to increased hospital visits, readmissions, and healthcare costs.

These resistant forms of bacterial infections are difficult to treat and have resulted in 17 million US patients yearly being treated for a biofilm-related infection with an estimated $94 billion in annual direct costs in the US alone.12 If left unchecked, resistant infections are estimated to kill more people than cancer by 2050.2

From Scalpel to Suture

Next Science is committed to our mission of healing people and saving lives through bringing our unique technologies to healthcare markets around the world. With XBIO Technology’s limitless potential, we are continuing to tackle the growing problem of antimicrobial resistance to help both physicians and patients fight the battle against biofilm.