Michael Barbella, Managing Editor12.06.22
Bye bye, bacteria.
Scientists have developed a promising new weapon in the war against hospital-acquired infections. UCLA specialists are fine-tuning an anti-microbial barrier they created for implantable medical devices using zwitterionic material and ultraviolet light. Zwitterionic substances are comprised of molecules that possess an equal amount of cationic and anionic groups, thereby rendering them electrically neutral.
The UCLA team built the barrier by depositing a thin layer of zwitterionic material to a device surface and then bonding it to the underlying substrate through UV light irradiation. Early clin- ical results are encouraging—laboratory testing shows the surface treatment reduces biofilm growth by more than 80% and in some cases up to 93%, depending on the bacterial strain.
“The modified surfaces exhibited robust resistance against microorganisms and proteins, which is precisely what we sought to achieve,” Richard Kaner, a UCLA Dr. Myung Ki Hong professor of Materials Innovation, and senior research author, told the university’s news service earlier this year. “The surfaces greatly reduced or even prevented biofilm formation. Our early clinical results have been outstanding.”
Those results are based on 16 long-term urinary catheter users who switched to silicone devices containing the zwitterionic surface treatment. The modified catheter is the first product made by SILQ Technologies Corp., a UCLA spinout company Kaner founded out of his lab in April 2020. The catheter has been cleared for use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Materials science is key to medtech innovation. New and improved manufacturing materials have led to advancements such as bioprinting, skin-friendly adhesives, shape memory plastics, bioactive glass (orthopedic repair), and bioresorbable stents.
MPO’s materials feature examines the latest trends and challenges in medtech materials science, as well as the factors driving innovation in this field. Modern Plastics President Bing Carbone was among the experts interviewed for this story; his full input is provided in the following Q&A:
Michael Barbella: What are the latest trends in medical device materials? What factors are driving these trends?
Bing Carbone: Modern Plastics is always talking to our customers, whether they are small startup companies to mid-size to major orthopedic OEMs and medical device manufacturers. There is an incredible amount of advancement occurring in the industry relative to new surgical procedures and techniques to improve patient outcome, device longevity (implants) and to strive for cost reductions. We are engaging customers on specialized 3D-filaments (such as our EVONIK implantable VESTAKEEP PEEK filament) and in patient-specific implantables.
Barbella: What factors are driving innovation in medical device materials science?
Carbone: Here again, the major things driving innovation are cost reductions and new technologies that generally speaking, will improve the surgical procedure for the best possible patient outcome. We are always amazed at new developments in technology and there is a great deal of innovation and new technology coming. Unfortunately, we are under non-disclosures on most of these new technologies with our customers, but rest assured, this medical market does not sit still for a moment and things are always changing and advancing.
Barbella: What material challenges are associated with medical device miniaturization and how can these challenges be overcome?
Carbone: One challenge is the relative difficulty to “mold” or “machine” miniature parts, but there are solutions forthcoming with new techniques in this area.
Barbella: How have materials suppliers managed the supply chain challenges prompted by the pandemic, and what lessons (changes) might they implement going forward to avoid future problems/issues?
Carbone: We communicate regularly with our customers and we provide recommended buying strategies to avoid any disruptions in the supply chain. A big factor is the communication process between our company and our customers seeking the best possible forecasting information possible so we can appropriately modify our Connecticut-based inventory levels to meet their requirements. 2022 will certainly have many challenges on very abnormal lead times and resin shortages but Modern Plastics has enormously increased inventory levels based on historical purchase information we have and anticipating the needs of our customers. We continue to grow our medical plastics very impressively every year and customers across North America and internationally have recognized the medical plastics, quality stock shapes supplier we are, but just as importantly is that we have mega-inventory ready to ship within 24 hours.
Barbella: In what ways has the COVID-19 pandemic spurred medical materials innovation, if at all?
Carbone: Major enhancements in PPE design and the use of new materials for easier cleaning and sterilization for sure is a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Barbella: How can materials help improve and/or achieve medical device sustainability?
Carbone: We continue to offer advanced, hi-tech medical plastics materials that offer improved sterilization and better mechanical properties. Modern Plastics is always on the cutting edge of material advancements and in new, and I will say, very excited coming to the market soon.
Barbella: Please discuss an instance (example) of an innovative material solution your company came up with to meet a challenging customer request.
Carbone: One example would be where Modern Plastics replaced a rigid medical instrument with a flexible medical grade polypropylene material for the instrument. This resulted in greater comfort for the patient and a much easier method for the surgeon to operate. We have been in the medical plastics business over 30 years and we have designers and engineers at some of the largest orthopedic and medical device companies seeking our guidance on these specialty materials. We are always anxious to supply technical data and actual materials samples for testing purposes.
Barbella: How will medical materials science evolve over the next five years?
Carbone: Certainly improved, and likely greatly improved filament technology is forthcoming, no doubt.
Scientists have developed a promising new weapon in the war against hospital-acquired infections. UCLA specialists are fine-tuning an anti-microbial barrier they created for implantable medical devices using zwitterionic material and ultraviolet light. Zwitterionic substances are comprised of molecules that possess an equal amount of cationic and anionic groups, thereby rendering them electrically neutral.
The UCLA team built the barrier by depositing a thin layer of zwitterionic material to a device surface and then bonding it to the underlying substrate through UV light irradiation. Early clin- ical results are encouraging—laboratory testing shows the surface treatment reduces biofilm growth by more than 80% and in some cases up to 93%, depending on the bacterial strain.
“The modified surfaces exhibited robust resistance against microorganisms and proteins, which is precisely what we sought to achieve,” Richard Kaner, a UCLA Dr. Myung Ki Hong professor of Materials Innovation, and senior research author, told the university’s news service earlier this year. “The surfaces greatly reduced or even prevented biofilm formation. Our early clinical results have been outstanding.”
Those results are based on 16 long-term urinary catheter users who switched to silicone devices containing the zwitterionic surface treatment. The modified catheter is the first product made by SILQ Technologies Corp., a UCLA spinout company Kaner founded out of his lab in April 2020. The catheter has been cleared for use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Materials science is key to medtech innovation. New and improved manufacturing materials have led to advancements such as bioprinting, skin-friendly adhesives, shape memory plastics, bioactive glass (orthopedic repair), and bioresorbable stents.
MPO’s materials feature examines the latest trends and challenges in medtech materials science, as well as the factors driving innovation in this field. Modern Plastics President Bing Carbone was among the experts interviewed for this story; his full input is provided in the following Q&A:
Michael Barbella: What are the latest trends in medical device materials? What factors are driving these trends?
Bing Carbone: Modern Plastics is always talking to our customers, whether they are small startup companies to mid-size to major orthopedic OEMs and medical device manufacturers. There is an incredible amount of advancement occurring in the industry relative to new surgical procedures and techniques to improve patient outcome, device longevity (implants) and to strive for cost reductions. We are engaging customers on specialized 3D-filaments (such as our EVONIK implantable VESTAKEEP PEEK filament) and in patient-specific implantables.
Barbella: What factors are driving innovation in medical device materials science?
Carbone: Here again, the major things driving innovation are cost reductions and new technologies that generally speaking, will improve the surgical procedure for the best possible patient outcome. We are always amazed at new developments in technology and there is a great deal of innovation and new technology coming. Unfortunately, we are under non-disclosures on most of these new technologies with our customers, but rest assured, this medical market does not sit still for a moment and things are always changing and advancing.
Barbella: What material challenges are associated with medical device miniaturization and how can these challenges be overcome?
Carbone: One challenge is the relative difficulty to “mold” or “machine” miniature parts, but there are solutions forthcoming with new techniques in this area.
Barbella: How have materials suppliers managed the supply chain challenges prompted by the pandemic, and what lessons (changes) might they implement going forward to avoid future problems/issues?
Carbone: We communicate regularly with our customers and we provide recommended buying strategies to avoid any disruptions in the supply chain. A big factor is the communication process between our company and our customers seeking the best possible forecasting information possible so we can appropriately modify our Connecticut-based inventory levels to meet their requirements. 2022 will certainly have many challenges on very abnormal lead times and resin shortages but Modern Plastics has enormously increased inventory levels based on historical purchase information we have and anticipating the needs of our customers. We continue to grow our medical plastics very impressively every year and customers across North America and internationally have recognized the medical plastics, quality stock shapes supplier we are, but just as importantly is that we have mega-inventory ready to ship within 24 hours.
Barbella: In what ways has the COVID-19 pandemic spurred medical materials innovation, if at all?
Carbone: Major enhancements in PPE design and the use of new materials for easier cleaning and sterilization for sure is a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Barbella: How can materials help improve and/or achieve medical device sustainability?
Carbone: We continue to offer advanced, hi-tech medical plastics materials that offer improved sterilization and better mechanical properties. Modern Plastics is always on the cutting edge of material advancements and in new, and I will say, very excited coming to the market soon.
Barbella: Please discuss an instance (example) of an innovative material solution your company came up with to meet a challenging customer request.
Carbone: One example would be where Modern Plastics replaced a rigid medical instrument with a flexible medical grade polypropylene material for the instrument. This resulted in greater comfort for the patient and a much easier method for the surgeon to operate. We have been in the medical plastics business over 30 years and we have designers and engineers at some of the largest orthopedic and medical device companies seeking our guidance on these specialty materials. We are always anxious to supply technical data and actual materials samples for testing purposes.
Barbella: How will medical materials science evolve over the next five years?
Carbone: Certainly improved, and likely greatly improved filament technology is forthcoming, no doubt.