- More than three million dogs and cats are registered in Chile. In this context, a team of researchers associated with CEDENNA is working so that science and nanotechnology can also contribute to animal health care.
In Chile, pet ownership has increased steadily in recent years. Along with this, the health challenges associated with companion animals have also grown. One of the problems of greatest concern to veterinary medicine is antimicrobial resistance, especially in recurrent skin infections in dogs, where conventional treatments often depend on the use of systemic or topical antibiotics. In response to this situation, a scientific team led by Dr. Jessica Bravo, CEDENNA associate researcher and director of the Biomedical Research Center of Universidad Diego Portales, is developing new topical formulations based on essential oils from native Chilean plants. The project, funded by ANID through the IDeA I+D 2024 competition, seeks to create safe and effective alternatives for the treatment of canine pyoderma, a common bacterial skin infection.
“Antimicrobial resistance in companion animals is a public health problem that often goes unnoticed. When a dog does not respond to available antibiotics, the risk is not only for the animal, but also for the people who live with it,” says Dr. Bravo.
Canine pyoderma is a skin infection that can cause itching, redness, lesions with pus, scabs, hair loss and skin inflammation. It is generally associated with underlying conditions such as allergies, parasites or other skin disorders, and is one of the most frequent causes of veterinary dermatology consultations. The Chilean team’s proposal consists of developing topical formulations based on essential oils obtained from native species, with antibacterial activity against bacteria associated with canine pyoderma, especially Staphylococcus pseudintermedius. Unlike conventional antibiotics, these formulations seek to offer a local, natural and scientifically backed alternative to support the management of skin infections in dogs. During the project, the team has made progress in validating antibacterial activity in the laboratory, evaluating safety in preclinical models and conducting preliminary studies in dogs diagnosed with superficial pyoderma. These advances made it possible to meet the technical objectives committed to ANID and consolidate a development platform with prospects for technology transfer.
“We started with what Chile has: plants that grow in our territory and contain bioactive compounds of great interest. What we did was transform that knowledge into stable, safe topical formulations with real potential to reach the veterinary market”, explains the researcher. The team’s next step is to incorporate nanotechnology tools, particularly nanoencapsulation strategies, which would protect the bioactive compounds, improve their stability and allow lower concentrations of the product to be used. This approach could facilitate their incorporation into everyday formulations for pet skin care. In addition to scientific development, the project includes an intellectual property protection and technology transfer strategy. A patentability report concluded that the technology has elements of novelty and inventive step according to the criteria established by Chilean legislation, which opens the possibility of moving towards a future patent application. The initiative brings together capabilities from Universidad Diego Portales, Universidad Mayor, the Bioactive Natural Products Laboratory and CEDENNA, with clinical support from COLMEVET, OFTADERM and the Universidad Mayor Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Botanical Solution, a Chilean company specializing in natural products, is also participating as a potential licensee of the technology. In an expanding veterinary market, the development of innovative solutions for companion animals represents a scientific, health and productive opportunity. The team’s goal is clear: to turn science based on native Chilean flora into a safe, transferable topical product with the potential to contribute to the management of skin infections in pets.
