Debiotech S.A. announced collaborative alliance for drug-eluting coatings with the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

16-Feb-2006

Debiotech S.A. announced collaborative alliance with the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Switzerland, in the field of drug-eluting coatings This research programme is lead by the Prof. Heinrich Hofmann from the Laboratory of Powder Technology and is partially funded by the CTI/KTI. It is built around a new type of structured ceramic coatings invented in collaboration between the Laboratory of Powder Technology and Debiotech SA. The objective is to develop this coating for drug eluting stents and other implants.

"If you look at the behaviour of drug eluting coatings after implantation, ceramics offer unique properties compared to polymers. Polymers dissolve over time and residues provoke inflammation. Ceramic is stable and inert when in contact with living tissue. With this coating, we combine an active release of drug during the first weeks after implantation with the long term stability of the ceramic. Nano-structured ceramics also offer very interesting mechanical properties. In fact it reduces strongly the limitations induced by their brittleness", says Laurent-Dominique Piveteau, Business Development Manager for Microsystems at Debiotech.

"Nanostructured materials provide novel properties to biomaterials which are not attainable with bulk material. The challenge in this project is to process nanosized ceramic powders to reach unique surface structures which show a controlled porosity over a size range of 2000 between the smallest and largest pore. Based on results of fundamental research activities in the field of ordered arrangement of nanosized particles at surfaces, we have established the knowledge of processing particles smaller than 10 nm at large scale, a key competence to achieve that goal. The close collaboration with Debiotech as industrial partner gives an additional incentive for our students working on the project" says Heinrich Hofmann, Director of the Powder Technology Laboratory.

https://www.bionity.com/en/news/52331/debiotech-s-a-announced-collaborative-alliance-for-drug-eluting-coatings-with-the-ecole-polytechnique-federale-de-lausanne.html