Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus Patches Accelerate Wound Closure in Diabetic Mice Faster than Conventional Antibiotic Therapy

Diabetic wounds infected with multidrug-resistant bacteria represent a major clinical challenge due to delayed healing and limited therapeutic options. In this study, we evaluated the therapeutic efficacy and biosafety of a biopolymeric skin patch loaded with the predatory bacterium Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus HD100 in a murine model of diabetic wounds infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In vitro assays demonstrated that B. bacteriovorus HD100 reduced P. aeruginosa populations by approximately 3 log units within 48 h. In vivo, diabetic mice treated with the B. bacteriovorus-loaded patch achieved complete wound closure within 12±1 days, compared with 16±1 days in mice treated with conventional antibiotic therapy (piperacillin/tazobactam, 16 mg/kg; single dose). Non-diabetic mice treated with biopolymeric patches, with or without the predatory bacterium, exhibited complete wound closure within 9–10 days. Molecular analysis by PCR revealed no detectable dissemination of B. bacteriovorus DNA to internal organs (liver, spleen, kidney, or brain), indicating the systemic biosafety of topical application. Overall, these results demonstrate that B. bacteriovorus-based skin patches significantly accelerate wound closure in infected diabetic wounds and represent a promising localized biological alternative to conventional antibiotic therapy.