When Derrick Johns, the CEO and founder of DiFusion Inc., was asked how he knew his company’s antimicrobial medical polymer implant could promote bone growth, he said his answer was simple: “blind faith.”

DiFusion launched in 2008 with a focus on reducing the number of infections acquired in orthopedic and spinal surgeries through the development of self-sterilizing implants.

In April 2015 the company participated in a study that placed its antimicrobial medical polymer implant into a rabbit leg bone to prevent infection and promote bone and tissue integration. When the scans arrived later, the team saw that bone growth had taken place.

Johns joked the company’s surgeon advisors at Yale University were doing cartwheels because DiFusion had discovered a “huge breakthrough.” He said the company actually stumbled upon the formula that spurred bone growth years prior, Johns said.

“We actually kind of stepped on the holy grail of the orthopedic world,” Johns said.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about three of every 100 patients develop an infection after surgery, and surgical-site infections have a mortality rate of 3 percent.

When placed in the body, DiFusion’s implant releases silver ions—which kill 650 different kinds of bacteria, including staph infections—into the surrounding tissue, Johns said. The ions disinfect the immediate area of that implant for about 96 hours.

DiFusion, a member company at the Texas Life-Sciences Collaboration Center  in Georgetown, was able to purchase equipment because of funding from the city of Georgetown through TLCC.

Georgetown Assistant City Manager Wayne Reed said the city supports companies such as DiFusion because they generate jobs in the city.

“DiFusion is on the cusp of this technology and of receiving approval both in Europe and the United States that would allow them to go from a startup to an extremely successful biotech company. So we are excited to see that happen,” he said.

DiFusion is seeking approval from the Food and Drug Administration, Johns said. If approved, Johns said the company’s technology could be on the market by March 2017.