Originally Published EMDM October 2001
TECHNOLOGY NEWS
BIOMATERIALS
Biomaterial Provides Alternative to Animal-Derived Materials
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| Melt-extruded from Tepha Inc.'s PHA4400 biosynthetic material, this monofilament is strong and flexible. According to the company, the material's performance surpasses that of others currently on the market. |
A new biomaterial is suited for a number of medical device and tissue engineering applications. The PHA4400 biomaterial, developed by Tepha Inc. (Cambridge, MA, USA), possesses a range of properties that weren't previously available in biomaterials.
One of the most alluring attributes of PHA4400 is its use as a substitute for animal-derived biomaterial products, says Simon Williams, company president. PHA4400 also has prolonged strength retention and is resistant to degradation, promotes tissue growth, is easy to handle. In addition, the biomaterial can be broken down by surface erosion.
Williams says PHA4400 was born from a need for a more comprehensive biomaterial. Biomaterials were originally developed for sutures, so their properties were limited. "People were exhausting the possibilities of the materials, so a need for a new material developed," says Williams.
PHA4400 is designed for use in cardiovascular applications, and has been used successfully in animals to produce the first trileaflet engineered heart valve and cardiovascular patches used for vessel augmentation and repair of the pericardium. Research continues into other uses of the material, including orthopaedic and wound management products. It may also be suitable for the development of absorbable stents.
PHA4400 can be processed into any shape by melt or solvent techniques, which allows for a number of production options. "The material provides such a large design base. Companies can tailor the material exactly to the application," says Williams.
Jamie Graham
Copyright ©2001 European Medical Device Manufacturer
