Our technology offers a cost-effective production of novel advanced materials for BioMed. Like Dr Leo Baekeland, who invented Bakelite, the world’s first plastic, we developed patterned microcontainer film. Our material is a polymer film made with microcontainers that look like air-filled bubbles of Bubble Wrap, only at the micro- and nanometre scale.
MICROCONTAINER FILM TECHNOLOGY FOR BIOMED
We are pioneering novel materials to the market. We developed cutting-edge technology to produce novel advanced materials for BioMed. Our microcontainer film can be used as next-generation drug-eluting coatings with a controlled drug-release function for implantable medical devices.
FOR BIOMEDICAL APPLICATIONS
Our microcontainer film is made from biocompatible and biodegradable polymers, with the microcontainers filled with drugs instead of air. We place drugs inside programmable microcontainers and release them on demand, significantly improving treatment effectiveness. With our novel material, we offer the world’s 1st drug-eluting coatings with a controlled drug-release function for implants, catheters, stents, and transdermal patches.
CONTROLLED RELEASE FUNCTION
We can programme our microcontainer film to achieve the release of encapsulated active substances on demand:
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PROLONGED DRUG RELEASE
Sustained and prolonged drug release for up to several months
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RELEASE WITH CONTROLLED KINETICS
Drugs are released at the desired rate and dosage
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TIMED DRUG RELEASE
Drugs are released at a specific time
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TRIGGERED DRUG RELEASE
Drug release can be triggered by ultrasound, near-infrared (NIR) laser light or pH
Wide choice of drugs
Microcontainers can be filled with practically any drug regardless of its molecular weight and solubility.
Biocompatible and biodegradable FDA-approved polymers
Our material is made from FDA-approved polymers – biocompatible and biodegradable synthetic polymers (PLA, PCL, PLGA, etc.) or natural polymers (albumin, chitosan, alginate, agar-agar, gelatin, etc.). The selection of polymers depends on the required release mechanism and the properties of active substances.
High loading capacity
Microcontainers can hold a high volume of active substances (cargo-shell ratio up to 10:1).
Flexible shape, size and thickness
Microcontainers’ shape, size and thickness are adjustable to meet the required properties.
Low-cost solution
The production costs are mainly determined by the price of polymers and encapsulated active substances.
FREE-STANDING MICROCONTAINERS
In addition to microcontainer film, we can produce their derivatives – free-standing custom-shaped microcontainers by separating the microcontainers from a film. With the same technology, we can produce two types of products:
- microcontainer film
- free-standing microcontainers
Microcontainers can be of various shapes, forms and sizes.
PROTOTYPES
Pre-industrial prototype of the production device
Smart drug-eluting coatings
Microcontainers can be of various shapes, forms and sizes
Electronics
Our microcontainer air film is an excellent material for high-frequency/high-density interconnect printed PCBs for 5G/6G, data centres, and high-performance computing and electronics due to its ability to reduce energy and signal losses, increase data transmission rate and reduce heat dissipation (overheating).
Product tracking systems
Our microcontainer film can be used to design invisible magnetic tags, a better alternative to the existing RFID tags and QR codes. These magnetic tags can be incorporated into banknotes, paper, plastic, powdered products or even liquids, and they are impossible to counterfeit.
Medical devices
Made from biocompatible and biodegradable polymers, our microcontainer films can be used as next-generation drug-eluting coatings for catheters, implants, and stents to achieve controlled drug release and bring treatment outcomes to the next level.
Cosmetics
Made from biocompatible and biodegradable polymers, our microcontainer film can be used for cosmetics and skincare products to improve the delivery of active ingredients to the skin for increased effectiveness.
References:
“Micro-sized “pelmeni” – A universal microencapsulation approach overview” 2021, Materials & Design
“Polyelectrolyte–Graphene Oxide Multilayer Composites for Array of Microchambers which are Mechanically Robust and Responsive to NIR Light” 2018, Macromolecular Rapid Communications
“Patterned Microstructure Fabrication: Polyelectrolyte Complexes vs Polyelectrolyte Multilayers” 2016, Scientific Reports
“Microcontact printing of polyelectrolyte multilayer thin films: Glass–viscous flow transition based effects and hydration methods” 2015, Colloids and Surfaces A
“Micropackaging via layer-by-layer assembly: microcapsules and microchamber arrays” 2014, International Materials Reviews
“Adhesion of Polyelectrolyte Multilayers: Sealing and Transfer of Microchamber Arrays” 2012, Langmuir
“Fabrication and mechanical properties of microchambers made of polyelectrolyte multilayers” 2011, Soft Matter
In total, our team has over 400 scientific publications on patterned microcontainer films and microencapsulation technologies.