01
Infection Control
Cathelicidin-inspired mechanisms can support direct antimicrobial activity by disrupting microbial membranes and helping control pathogens.
About the Science
Inspired by the body's innate immune defenses
CSA BioTech's scientific approach is rooted in the biology of the innate immune system, antimicrobial peptides known as cathelicidins, and synthetic small-molecule mimics known as ceragenins.
Scientific Rationale
01EB wound burden
02Innate immune biology
03Cathelicidins and LL-37
04Ceragenins
05CAV-121
Innate Immune System
The skin is both a physical barrier and an active immune organ
The innate immune system is the body's first response system. It helps identify threats, control microbial invasion, recruit immune cells, and support tissue repair.
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Recognize threats
02
Control microbial invasion
03
Recruit immune cells
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Support tissue repair
Cathelicidins
Antimicrobial peptides involved in host defense
Cathelicidins are small, positively charged antimicrobial peptides. In humans, the CAMP gene encodes hCAP18, a precursor protein that is processed into LL-37, an active peptide fragment involved in antimicrobial activity, immune modulation, and wound-healing biology.
01
Microbial membrane disruption
02
Biofilm interference
03
Immune-cell recruitment
04
Endotoxin neutralization
05
Wound-healing biology
LL-37 Functional Biology
Wound-Healing Biology
Kill. Clean. Repair.
Cathelicidin-related biology provides a scientific rationale across antimicrobial activity, cell migration, inflammation modulation, neovascularization, and tissue repair.
Kill
Clean
Repair
Kill
02
Inflammation Modulation
Cathelicidins are involved in immune signaling, including immune-cell recruitment, modulation of inflammation, and interaction with microbial cell-wall fragments.
03
Tissue Regeneration
As wounds progress, immune modulation and tissue-repair signals help support regeneration, remodeling, and wound closure biology.
Ceragenins
Small molecules designed to mimic cathelicidins
Ceragenins are synthetic small molecules designed to mimic key properties of antimicrobial peptides such as cathelicidins. Unlike peptide-based molecules, ceragenins are non-peptide structures, which may offer advantages in drug development, formulation, and stability.
01Synthetic small molecules
02Non-peptide structures
03Designed for drug development utility
Inventor of Ceragenins
Paul B. Savage, PhD
Paul B. Savage, PhD, is recognized for his work in ceragenin chemistry. He is the Reed M. Izatt Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Brigham Young University.
Dr. Savage received his undergraduate degree in chemistry from BYU and his PhD in organic chemistry from the University of Wisconsin. He completed postdoctoral training at The Ohio State University.
His research is tied to innate immune function, including structural requirements of glycolipids for natural killer T-cell stimulation and the development of non-peptide mimics of antimicrobial peptides. His work has led to more than 160 papers and dozens of issued and pending patents, with research support from the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, and corporate sponsors.