Medical Devices

Efllochemlab breakthrough validated methods have led to successful molecular degradation studies and complete molecular analyses, saving sponsors millions of dollars and time in their approval process in the US-FDA and around the world, as well as adding competitive advantage on the performance and safety of their products. Since the first development of synthetic poly(glycolic acid) based suture system in the 1960s, synthetic biodegradable polymers, with uniform molecular structure and controllable properties have become the major biomaterials used in medical devices such as scaffolds, implants, drug delivery vectors, and sutures (Figure 1.1., Table 1.1).

In 2005, approximately 445,687 patients died from coronary artery disease (CAD) in the United States accounting for 20% of all deaths that year. Over the past two decades, percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) with bare-metal stents (BMS) has been used as a treatment for obstructive CAD (Figure 1.2). However, a high percentage of patients experience arterial narrowing or restenosis resulting in the need for reintervention.

Recently, DES have been developed to address the drawbacks associated with using BMS and to promote healing of the vessel after opening the blockage. DES consists of a BMS platform coated with an antiproliferative drug-polymer film. The first generation of DES were found to be associated with an increased risk of sub-acute and delayed stent thrombosis (ST). Although the etiology of stent thrombosis has yet to be fully elucidated, studies have indicated that durable polymers used as part of the drug elution matrix can play a role by triggering inflammation and hypersensitivity reactions predisposing a patient towards ST.

Consequently, to avoid this complication, the next generation DES utilizes biodegradable polymers either as part of the drug-matrix applied to the stent and/or as a replacement for the metal scaffold. Given the association between polymer presence and ST, next generation DES have shifted to use of faster resorbing polymers to reduce the risk of ST.