| Title: |
Biodegradable
Copolymer for Biomaterial Applications |
| Case # |
119 |
| Inventors: |
Matt Gevaert and Stephen Massia |
| Summary: |
Clemson University Bioengineering researchers
have synthesized a covalently bonded polymer of poly (lactic acid)
and dextran. This synthetic approach results in a simpler,
cleaner synthesis and a more biologically palatable polymer product
with enhanced capacity for drug delivery. The technique
is applicable to a variety of polylactide: dextran ratios, resulting
in polymers that can be either solids or hydrogels. The
incorporation of dextran modifies the degradation profile creating
the ability to introduce dextran that has been loaded with other
molecules. Because of the range of properties of systems
with different polylactide: dextran ratios, the synthesis would
have to be optimized for a particular application. |
| Applications: |
Biodegradable polymers are used most
commonly as implantable drug delivery devices and as scaffolds
in tissue engineering applications. The ability to covalently
bond chemically active molecules such as drugs or cell-signaling
peptides is key to achieving a desirable release profile and predicable
effect on surrounding cells/tissue. This copolymer would
be useful in an application requiring a substrate for cell growth
and/or biodegradative release of active molecules in a non-load
bearing fashion. |
| Patent Status: |
U.S. Patent #6,525,145 issued. |
| Licensing: |
Our interest is to identify interested
industry parties to license the process and to collaborate with
in its further development. |
| Contact: |
For more information about this
technology, please contact:
Vincie Albritton, Associate Director
Phone: (864) 656-5708
Fax: (864) 656-0474
email: valbrit@clemson.edu
or
Janet Dillon, Project Administrator
Phone: (864) 656-4237
Fax: (864) 656-0474
email: gjanet@clemson.edu
Note: Don't forget to include the technology number in
your emails!
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