18 Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) remain one of the most persistent and costly biofilm-related challenges facing healthcare systems. Indwelling urinary catheters provide an ideal surface for rapid microbial attachment, with biofilms forming within hours of insertion. Once established, biofilms can make bacteria up to 1,000- fold more antibiotic-tolerant, leading to chronic and recurrent infections that are difficult to eradicate. Despite decades of clinical need, existing catheter technologies offer little sustained protection, and CAUTIs still account for over 23% of hospital acquired infections, costing the NHS an estimated £1.2bn p.a. MetalloBio Ltd. is addressing this unmet need through a fundamentally different, materials based approach. The company is developing novel ruthenium based antimicrobial technologies to prevent bacterial colonisation and disrupt established biofilms on urinary catheters. Two series of kinetically inert metal complex antimicrobials have been developed, demonstrating potent, broad spectrum activity against multidrug resistant uropathogens such as Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterobacter hormaechei and Proteus mirabilis. In collaboration with Nottingham Trent University (NTU) and the Medical Technologies Innovation Facility (MTIF), these compounds have been incorporated into prototype catheter coatings and evaluated using advanced, clinically relevant biofilm models. Prior to engaging with NBIC, progress towards a clinically relevant solution was constrained by several barriers. While MetalloBio had strong expertise in chemistry and materials science, the company lacked access to specialist microbiology facilities, biosafety Level 2 laboratories, and in depth biological expertise required to test efficacy against multidrug resistant CAUTI biofilms. Early stage funding was also needed to generate robust Proof of Concept data under physiologically realistic conditions, evidence critical for further investment and translation. For NTU and MTIF, the project offered an opportunity to apply advanced biofilm models to a promising antimicrobial class not previously evaluated in such systems. Tackling Catheter Biofilms with Next‑Gen Antimicrobial Materials NBIC’s support was instrumental in overcoming these challenges. Targeted funding, access to specialist facilities, and structured cross sector collaboration enabled the partners to establish new workflows, including optimised artificial urine media, a modified Minimum Biofilm Eradication Concentration (MBEC) assay tubing assay, and a continuous drip flow reactor that closely replicates real catheter environments. These platforms enabled validation of the lead compound, KLS 116, demonstrating both prevention of early stage biofilm formation and significant eradication of mature biofilms under continuous flow conditions. Dr Michael Murray, CEO, MetalloBio Ltd said: “NBIC’s involvement has been instrumental in accelerating the development and validation of our technology. Their support enabled us to generate essential Proof of Concept data that would not otherwise have been achievable, providing the biological, mechanistic and biofilm model evidence required to progress towards commercialisation.” Beyond technical validation, the work supported by NBIC delivered broader impacts across research, partnership and commercial readiness. MetalloBio and its academic partners generated new intellectual property, improved polymer formulations, and developed more streamlined manufacturing routes with associated cost savings, while also strengthening an academic–SME collaboration later recognised as runner‑up in the Medilink Business-Academia Collaboration Award 2025. In parallel, engagement through NBIC and the FTMA scheme enabled researcher training, industry secondments and multiple follow‑on funding applications, positioning the partnership to progress confidently toward further translational development, investment and commercial engagement. This project has now been awarded funding through NBIC’s Industrial Challenge Response Fund. KLS-116 compound synthesis. Dr Michael Murray, CEO, MetalloBio Ltd Dr Samantha McLean, Associate Professor, Nottingham Trent University Professor Jim Thomas, CSO and Co-founder, MetalloBio Ltd Dr Adam Varney, Academic Lead for Microbiology, Medical Technologies Innovation Facility 18 CASE STUDY
View this content as a flipbook by clicking here.