Oat Shield

Pollution and excessive waste affects individuals worldwide, with wound bandaging waste being a leading cause. Current wound bandaging contaminates waterways, produces toxins and serious health risks while also being single use and non antimicrobial, causing irritation and even allergic reactions.
We propose a biodegradable, antimicrobial wound dressing made from oat husk cellulose, a major agricultural by product in Alberta. By turning waste into a valuable medical tool,  we aim to reduce healthcare waste while creating a circular Albertan economy. We plan to engineer bacterium Bacillus subtilis to increase production of subtilin, a natural antimicrobial peptide that targets gram positive bacteria, one of the leading causes of wound infections. Our engineered circuit involves an inducible promoter, ribosome binding site, subtilin gene, and terminator in order to ensure efficient subtilin production. Unlike traditional gauze that acts only as a physical barrier, our solution actively inhibits bacterial growth without relying on harsh chemical disinfectants or PFAS-containing materials. We hope to model our plan using commercial cellulose, testing for antimicrobial effectiveness and shelf life stability.  We aim to create a cost-effective, sustainable wound dressing that protects both human health and the environment.