Polymer Technology Group (PTG) to Report Self-Assembling,
Antimicrobial End Groups for Surface Modification of Biomedical Polymers
Results of initial testing of an important new technology to be
presented this week at ‘8th World
Biomaterials Congress’, Amsterdam
“Our demonstration of the
self-assembly of an effective antimicrobial agent bonded to a polymer
before device fabrication provides a low-cost alternative to biocidal
coatings for reducing device-related infections.”
-Robert S. (Bob) Ward, CEO, Polymer Technology Group (PTG)
BERKELEY, Calif. (Business Wire EON) May 27, 2008 --
The
Polymer Technology Group, Inc. (www.polymertech.com),
a
preeminent biomaterials company, announced today that Shanger
Wang, Ph.D., will report from the podium this week during the ‘8th
World Biomaterials Congress’ in Amsterdam, The
Netherlands. His presentation (“Thermoplastic
Polycarbonate-Urethane with Surface-Active Alkylammonium Chloride End
Groups: Antimicrobial Activity, Bulk and Surface Properties”)
will include the characterization of a breakthrough polymeric
biomaterial with permanently-bonded antimicrobial surface properties
designed to reduce medical device-centered infection. PTG is also
exhibiting at the conference (booth #5).
“The device industry has been challenged to
produce polymeric biomaterials with built-in antimicrobial surface
properties for reducing device-centered infection. But most approaches
to date have used drug-eluting compounds or coatings that are eventually
consumed. It is much more desirable to have easily processed
biomaterials with good wet-strength and long-term efficacy without
leachable additives, drugs or biocides,” said Bob
Ward, CEO. “We believe we have an answer
to this problem.
“Indeed, the results being presented by Dr.
Wang demonstrate that very small amounts of biologically active
end-groups can be permanently incorporated into a polymeric biomaterial during
its synthesis,” added Ward. “The
novelty here is that after extrusion or molding, the device ‘modifies
its own surface’ because of the surface
activity and self assembly of the novel end-groups. Antimicrobial groups
concentrate in the surface where they are needed. For this reason
secondary coating processes or treatments are not needed. This
can reduce the cost of goods and manufacturing times while increasing
yield.”
Dr. Wang will report that polyurethanes with surface-active
alkylammonium chloride end-groups were successfully synthesized and
their physical properties, surface chemistry and biocidal activities
evaluated. The presence and self assembly of end-groups in the surface
was confirmed by SFG (Sum Frequency Generation Spectroscopy). The
polymers exhibit low water absorption, excellent strength and
processability, high molecular weight, and effective contact-killing of
Gram-positive bacteria relative to controls. Dr. Wang will also discuss
how these modified TPCUs (Thermoplastic PolyCarbonate Urethanes) and
polymers with other antimicrobial ‘self-assembling
monomer end groups’ are currently being
optimized by PTG for use in various biomedical applications.
ABOUT PTG
Headquartered in Berkeley, Calif., The Polymer Technology Group, Inc.
(PTG) specializes in the research, development, design, scale-up, and
manufacture of new polymers, medical devices, and components. PTG's
recently expanded operations to 70,000-square-feet comprise the
equipment and expertise to support production-scale polymer synthesis
through contract medical device manufacturing. On April 28th the company
announced it has agreed to be acquired by DSM, the global Life Sciences
and Materials Sciences company headquartered in the Netherlands. The
union with PTG will enable DSM Biomedical to expand its unique portfolio
of materials-based technologies which will benefit customers in the
medical device and pharmaceutical industries. Closing of the acquisition
is expected to take place by the end of May, 2008.
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