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t m c » p u l s e | j a n / f e b 2 0 1 6 10 W ithin the fast-paced laboratory of Antonios Mikos, Ph.D., Louis Calder Professor of Bioengineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Rice University, researchers strive to develop a wealth of materials to repair severe cranio- facial injuries—often ones sustained through trauma or pathological defects like tumor removal. Unfortunately, one familiar, pesky interloper has the potential to jeopardize healthy recovery and tissue growth as patients receive temporary implants for facial recon- struction: infection. "Infection is an important prob- lem that needs to be considered with medical devices, because bacteria can prevent the body from being able to heal," said Mikos, also director of the Center for Excellence in Tissue Engineering at Rice. "Infection can not only limit the ability of a medical device to perform, but it may also require the removal of the device itself. Depending on the extent of the infection, it can even lead to tissue necrosis—the death of previously healthy tissue." In their battle against the loom- ing threat of infection, Mikos and his colleagues have come up with a solu- tion—a unique way to deliver time- released antibiotics, warding off infection while a patient heals. "Think of this as something that allows us to infuse a prefabricated implant with an antibiotic gel that would be slowly released after implan- tation," Mikos said. "This would address any issues surrounding infection." For patients who have sustained a craniofacial injury, the lab's prefabri- cated implants—essentially, specialized space maintainers—are designed to keep a pocket for new bone open Antonios Mikos, Ph.D., and Sarita Shah work to develop materials to help repair severe craniofacial injuries. Battling Infection Rice University researchers have developed an antibiotic-infused, time-released gel for space holders in facial reconstruction B y A l e x O r l a n d o Infection is an important problem that needs to be considered with medical devices because bacteria can prevent the body from being able to heal. […] Infection can not only limit the ability of a medical device to per- form, but it may also require the removal of the device itself. — ANTONIOS MIKOS, PH.D. Louis Calder Professor of Bioengineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Rice University