SHABRI LLC Awarded $306,864 NIH Grant to Advance Antimicrobial Prosthetic Liner Technology
Phase I research led by prosthetist, amputee, and entrepreneur Rakesh Srivastava will bring together researchers from SHABRI LLC, the University of Nebraska at Omaha, and the University of Nebraska Medical Center.
HASTINGS, Neb. — SHABRI LLC has been awarded a $306,864 grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to advance the development of an antimicrobial prosthetic liner designed to help reduce the risk of infection for people with lower-limb amputations.
The Phase I Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grant was awarded through the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). Rakesh Srivastava, M.S., CPO, founder and CEO of SHABRI LLC and Innovative Prosthetics & Orthotics, serves as Project Director and Principal Investigator.
The project, titled “Antimicrobial Prosthetic Liner for Preventing Residual Limb Infection,” will evaluate a new liner fabric intended to address a persistent challenge for prosthetic users.
Prosthetic liners provide cushioning and protection between the residual limb and prosthetic socket, but conventional liner materials can also trap heat and perspiration. The resulting warm, moist environment can encourage bacterial growth and contribute to skin problems and infection.
The SHABRI research project uses an antimicrobial liner fabric made with chitosan nanofibers combined with medical-grade polyurethane nanofibers. Chitosan is a naturally derived material known for its antibacterial properties and biocompatibility. The technology is designed to provide antimicrobial protection without relying on antibiotics.
“As both a prosthetist and an amputee, I understand how important skin health and comfort are to a person’s ability to use a prosthesis every day,” said Srivastava. “We are always looking for ways to solve real problems that affect people with limb loss. This NIH grant allows our team to rigorously evaluate a technology that we believe has the potential to make prosthetic liners safer and better for the people who depend on them.”
During the Phase I project, researchers will work to optimize the antimicrobial fabric, evaluate its ability to resist bacteria and biofilm formation, test its mechanical performance and biocompatibility, and determine how well it withstands perspiration, repeated wear, and routine cleaning.
The goal of Phase I is to develop a proof-of-concept prosthetic liner combining the antimicrobial fabric with an optimized silicone support structure. Successful completion of the project could lead to additional development and preparation for safety and efficacy clinical trials for a Phase II research effort.
“Our approach to antimicrobial protection is fundamentally different from conventional strategies,” said Dr. Yury Salkovskiy, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biomechanics at the University of Nebraska at Omaha and Co-Principal Investigator. “Instead of relying on antibiotics, which can cause unwanted side effects, our liner uses engineered polymers that actively kill harmful bacteria while also promoting the healing of skin injuries that can develop on the residual limb during everyday prosthesis use. We believe this technology could transform prosthetic liners by making them safer, more protective, and better suited to the needs of people living with major limb loss.”
Multidisciplinary Research Team
The project brings together a multidisciplinary team from SHABRI LLC, the University of Nebraska at Omaha, and the University of Nebraska Medical Center, combining expertise in prosthetics and orthotics, biomedical engineering, materials science, polymer chemistry, microbiology, cell biology, biomechanics, and additive manufacturing.
The collaboration is designed to move the technology from laboratory research toward practical manufacturing while keeping the needs of prosthetic users central to the development process.
“This award represents the first STTR grant secured in the UNO Department of Biomechanics and is an exciting milestone for our research and innovation efforts,” said Dr. Jorge Zuniga, research collaborator and Assistant Chair of the Department of Biomechanics. “Dr. Yury Salkovskiy is an outstanding scientist, and SHABRI has been an exceptional collaborator in translating our research into technologies that can directly benefit people with limb loss.”
For Srivastava, the project continues a long-standing focus on combining clinical experience with technology and research to improve prosthetic care. He has spent more than three decades in prosthetics and orthotics and has lived with an above-knee amputation for more than four decades.
About Rakesh Srivastava, M.S., CPO
Rakesh Srivastava is a board-certified prosthetist and orthotist, entrepreneur, researcher, and the founder and CEO of Innovative Prosthetics & Orthotics and SHABRI LLC. An above-knee amputee himself, Srivastava brings both professional expertise and personal experience to his work developing and providing prosthetic and orthotic solutions. Throughout his career, he has maintained a strong interest in emerging technologies, research, and new approaches that improve mobility, comfort, and quality of life for people with limb loss.
About SHABRI LLC
Based in Hastings, Nebraska, SHABRI LLC is a research, development, and manufacturing company focused on advancing technology for prosthetic, orthotic, and other medical applications. The company operates its primary laboratory in Hastings and a second laboratory and office on the University of Nebraska at Omaha campus, providing close access to UNO’s additive manufacturing resources and research collaborators. SHABRI provides design and manufacturing capabilities designed to help move innovative medical products from research and validation toward practical use.
About Innovative Prosthetics & Orthotics
Innovative Prosthetics & Orthotics provides comprehensive prosthetic and orthotic care from patient care locations in Hastings, Grand Island, and Omaha, Nebraska, while also serving patients in Kearney, Lincoln, and surrounding communities. Founded by Rakesh Srivastava, M.S., CPO, Innovative combines individualized patient care with advanced prosthetic and orthotic technologies. Srivastava’s perspective as both a certified clinician and longtime prosthesis user has helped shape the company’s emphasis on personal service, innovation, and helping patients achieve greater mobility and independence.
NIH Funding Acknowledgment
Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number R41AI197550. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.
