This research programme is lead by the Prof. Heinrich Hofmann from the Laboratory of Powder Technology and is partially funded by the CTI/KTI. It is built around a new type of structured ceramic coatings invented in collaboration between the Laboratory of Powder Technology and Debiotech SA. The objective is to develop this coating for drug eluting stents and other implants.

“If you look at the behaviour of drug eluting coatings after implantation, ceramics offer unique properties compared to polymers. Polymers dissolve over time and residues provoke inflammation. Ceramic is stable and inert when in contact with living tissue. With this coating, we combine an active release of drug during the first weeks after implantation with the long term stability of the ceramic. Nano-structured ceramics also offer very interesting mechanical properties. In fact it reduces strongly the limitations induced by their brittleness”, says Laurent-Dominique Piveteau, Business Development Manager for Microsystems at Debiotech.

“We are particularly excited by this additional collaboration with the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale of Lausanne, which is today one of the leading center in Europe for micro and nanotechnologies. Prof. Hofmann and his team have a great experience in nanomaterials and ceramics, which has brought us to very innovative methods for drug delivery in implants, in particular for stents and prostheses. We are looking forward to actively contribute to significant clinical benefits in a field which is today one of the fastest growing in our industry”, says Frederic Neftel, CEO and President of Debiotech.

“Nanostructured materials provide novel properties to biomaterials which are not attainable with bulk material. The challenge in this project is to process nanosized ceramic powders to reach unique surface structures which show a controlled porosity over a size range of 2000 between the smallest and largest pore. Based on results of fundamental research activities in the field of ordered arrangement of nanosized particles at surfaces, we have established the knowledge of processing particles smaller than 10 nm at large scale, a key competence to achieve that goal. The close collaboration with Debiotech as industrial partner gives an additional incentive for our students working on the project” says Heinrich Hofmann, Director of the Powder Technology Laboratory.

ABOUT DRUG ELUTING STENTS (DES)
Coronary angioplasty is one of the most common chirurgical procedures nowadays. Around the world it is performed about two million times every year. Since its first description in 1977 by a Swiss medical team, it has deeply evolved. Today stents, a sort of small metal tubes, are inserted during the intervention and act as a scaffold that will maintain the coronary open and reduce restenosis on the long term. About 70% of these stents are coated with a drug eluting polymer. This drug, which is released over a few weeks, prevents the growth of soft tissue as a reaction to the trauma induced by the operation. The drug eluting stent market is the largest market in revenues for a single type of medical device. With its 4.5 billions US$ worth of sales every year, it is the only device that has a similar profile to pharmaceutical blockbusters. Of these revenues, 67% come from the US market, 20% from Europe and 13% from the rest of the world.

ABOUT DEBIOTECH
Debiotech S.A. specializes in the research and development of innovative medical devices in the field of implantable and external drug delivery systems, using mechatronics and MEMS, dialysis, diagnostics and imaging devices. ( www.debiotech.com ). Debiotech has numerous exclusive collaboration agreements with leading companies in the medical device and pharmaceutical fields.

ABOUT the ECOLE POLYTECHNIQUE FEDERALE DE LAUSANNE (EPFL)
The EPFL ( www.epfl.ch ) is one of the leading scientific and technological universities in Switzerland. It has a long tradition in technological innovation, high-tech business creation and technology transfer initiatives. In 2006, it will become the leading house of the new national centre of competences “Materials and technology”. This centre that brings together laboratories from the ETHZ, the EMPA, the PSI and the CSEM has the mission of developing new materials and new surface properties for medical applications, energy storage, nano-systems, sensors and diagnostics.

Contact:

Debiotech SA
Avenue de Sevelin, 28
CH-1004 Lausanne, Switzerland
Phone: +41-21-623-60-00
Fax: +41-21-623-60-01
email:

<< Back