Originally Published MDDI November 2001
R&D DIGEST
Grant Awarded to Develop Infection-Resistant CoatingsThe risk of infection associated with implantable medical devices is an issue of growing concern. Each year, as many as 100,000 patients with indwelling vascular catheters become infected, resulting in human suffering and healthcare costs estimated to exceed $300 million.
One approach to reducing such occurrences entails the use of special coatings that inhibit infection. The National Institutes of Health has awarded a $249,782 small business technology transfer (STTR) grant to CardioTech International Inc. (Woburn, MA) for ongoing research in this area. The second-year Phase II STTR grant will support research being conducted in conjunction with the University of Rhode Island (Kingston, RI) and the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (Boston).
The project involves a unique collaboration among researchers in polymer chemistry, textile chemistry, and biomedical research. Conventional methods for creating infection-resistant materials are based on using external binding agents that can integrate the necessary antiseptics and antibiotics.
The CardioTech research is assessing the use of textile technology to incorporate ciprofloxacin, the generic form of the antibiotic Cipro, into a proprietary polyurethane coating without the use of binders. The researchers speculate that the technique could lead to development of new "smart" coatings with selective affinities for specific functions, such as anticoagulation or antimicrobial activities.
Copyright ©2001 Medical Device & Diagnostic Industry
