Clinical Research Directory

Clinical Evaluation of Copesilcup

Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs): HAIs are a problem for all institutions and countries worldwide. Currently, one of the main infections is catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI). Problem: Infection associated with permanent urinary catheters is a problem with a significant social and public health impact due to its high morbidity, mortality, and associated costs. The COPESIL technology developed in the FONDEF ID19I10113 project consists of the modification and functionalization of silicone materials through the anchoring of polyethylene glycol molecules on their surface (pegylation process). Our technology showed significant antimicrobial and anti-biofilm capacity in in vitro and in vivo models. This proposal aims to scale up COPESIL technology to a permanent urinary catheter that we have named COPESILCUP. The creation of a new device and its clinical validation will open up and revolutionize research in biomaterials. State of the art: Currently, there are a variety of urinary catheters designed to reduce the risk of infection. These include catheters impregnated with antibiotics (nitrofurantoin, minocycline, and rifampicin), silver oxide, and silver alloys. However, these catheters have little effect on the adhesion of uropathogens. The hypothesis is proposed: The use of a permanent silicone urinary catheter modified through a pegylation process that incorporates copper nanoparticles (COPESILCUP), which has antimicrobial and anti-biofilm properties, reduces the incidence of urinary tract infection in hospitalized adults who use permanent urinary catheters compared to unmodified silicone urinary catheters. The overall objective of this project is to develop a permanent silicone urinary catheter modified through a pegylation process that incorporates copper nanoparticles (COPESILCUP), which has antimicrobial and anti-biofilm properties, and to evaluate its efficacy by measuring the incidence of urinary tract infections and its safety in humans using permanent urinary catheters in a public hospital for adults. Methodology: Clinical validation of COPESILCUP in a Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial: the aim is to validate the medical device in a real patient setting in order to establish whether it is better than the standard.