[TECHNOLOGY OPPORTUNITY 2000-025]

Resorbable Drug-Eluting Biomaterials

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Introduction:
A patented method of formulating resorbable, drug-eluting elastomers from clinically accepted monomers, such as D,L-lactide and ε-caprolactone, has been developed by researchers at Queen’s University. Capable of delivering a variety of therapeutic agents, including proteins and peptides, these elastomers have increased toughness and can be tailored to possess a specific drug release profile, surface chemistry, or resorption rate. Ideally suited for use as medical devices, implant coatings, scaffolds for tissue engineering, and/or drug depots, these elastomers represent a novel technology platform upon which a portfolio of products could be developed.

Technology Overview:
These amorphous elastomers can be either thermally crosslinked or photo-crosslinked and degrade via hydrolysis into biocompatible by-products. There is a strong correlation between in vivo and in vitro degradation rates and the elastomers maintain their form stability throughout the degradation process; aspects important in the design of resorbable medical devices.

The ability to be photo-crosslinked represents a significant advantage over other biodegradable polymer systems as it can occur at ambient temperatures and, thus, enables the incorporation of environmentally sensitive therapeutic agents such as biologics (i.e. growth factors). Additionally, photo-crosslinking makes possible a variety of processing techniques, including rapid prototyping.

Material Characterization & Testing:
Extended drug release profiles (months) have been achieved in vitro using representative therapeutic agents such as Bupivacaine, Pilocarpine, Interferon Gamma, Interleukin-2, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor, Goserelin Acetate, and Vitamin B12. Testing has demonstrated that the bioactivity of biologics eluted from the elastomers is retained during the release period.

The short-term biocompatibility of the thermally crosslinked elastomers has been established through the following ISO 10993-compliant tests:
o In Vitro Cytotoxicity,
o Intracutaneous Extract Injection,
o Systemic Extract Injection, and
o Implantation Test (2wk).
Long-term (30 wk) in vivo biocompatibility studies of the photo-crosslinkable elastomers have been performed using subcutaneous and intramuscular implantation models.

Status of Development/Commercialization:
The technology is protected by one issued patent (U.S. Pat. No. 6,984,393) and three pending patents (US & Canada). PARTEQ Innovations, the technology transfer office of Queen’s University, is seeking industrial partners interested in licensing the technology.

Contact:
Jason Hendry
Manager, Commercial Development
Phone: 613. 533. 2342 Ext. 74780
Fax: 613. 533. 6853
Email: jhendry@parteqinnovations.com
Tech ID: 2000-025