Microcontainer film technology

MICROCONTAINER FILM TECHNOLOGY FOR BIOMEDICAL APPLICATIONS

We developed cutting-edge microcontainer film technology to produce controlled-release drug-eluting coatings for indwelling and implantable medical devices. Our technology enables sustained and prolonged drug release for up to several months. It also introduces a release-on-demand mechanism whereby drugs can be released using external triggers, such as ultrasound or NIR laser light. Our technology can be used for the fabrication of effective antibacterial coatings capable of preventing medical device-associated bacterial infections or for the local delivery of chemotherapy or other drugs.

NOVEL COATING TECHNOLOGY

Our microcontainer film technology offers a cost-effective production of next-generation drug-eluting coatings with a controlled drug-release function. Like Dr Leo Baekeland, who invented Bakelite, the world’s first plastic, we developed patterned microcontainer film. With our novel material, we pioneer the world’s first drug-eluting coatings with a controlled drug-release function. Our coatings are biocompatible, biodegradable, biostable and non-toxic, and can be applied to a wide range of medical devices, from implants and catheters to contact lenses, transdermal patches and cosmetic ingredients.

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. 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, in a controllable manner, significantly improving treatment effectiveness.

CONTROLLED RELEASE FUNCTION

We can programme our microcontainer film to achieve the release of encapsulated compounds on demand.

PROLONGED DRUG RELEASE

Sustained and prolonged drug release for up to several months

RELEASE WITH CONTROLLED KINETICS

Drugs are released at a desired rate and dosage

TIMED DRUG RELEASE

Drugs are released at a desired time

TRIGGERED DRUG RELEASE

Drug release can be triggered by ultrasound, near-infrared (NIR) laser light or environmental changes, such as pH

Next-generation controlled-release antibacterial coatings

WIDE CHOICE OF ACTIVE SUBSTANCES

Microcontainers can be filled with any compounds regardless of its molecular weight and solubility. They can also contain multiple actives substances. In addition to antimicrobial drugs, we can incorporate healing or bone-repair substances.

BIOCOMPATIBLE AND BIODEGRADABLE POLYMERS

Our microcontainer film is made from FDA-approved 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, representing a fraction of the final price of the product.

FREE-STANDING MICROCONTAINERS

In addition to the microcontainer film, we can produce its derivatives, free-standing custom-shaped microcontainers, by separating the microcontainers from the microcontainer film. Using the same technology, we can produce two types of products: