| Dr Simon Moulten from UOW’s Intelligent Polymer Research Instit... Dr Simon Moulten from UOW’s Intelligent Polymer Research Institute demonstrates the experiments with biodegradable stents designed to generate power to regulate drug release |
Nanobionics breakthrough to be demonstrated at symposium
19 Jun 2008 | Nick Hartgerink
University of Wollongong scientists will reveal a breakthrough in medical technology involving biodegradable stents that can release medication at a controlled rate at the inaugural Asia-Pacific Symposium on Nanobionics that starts this weekend.
Executive Research Director of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science (ACES) and Director of UOW’s Intelligent Polymer Research Institute Professor Gordon Wallace and his team will demonstrate the new technology at the symposium.
At a preview demonstration today at UOW, Professor Wallace said his team had been working on the novel method for drug delivery for several years. It had patented the process and was continuing the research in partnership with Boston Scientific USA, one of the world’s leading stent manufacturers.
The researchers have developed a process that involves coupling drug-loaded polymers and biomedical degradable magnesium alloy stents. As the alloy corrodes in the body it releases power which is then harnessed to control the release of drugs contained in the polymers.
The initial research focus has been on the release of anti-inflammatory drug dexamethasone to assist in the implantation of arterial stents.
“This is a new and exciting process to harness power for the release of medication,” Professor Wallace said. “It is the next generation of stents, and we’ll be presenting it to the medical and scientific community for the first time at the Symposium. We’re looking forward to their response.”
Professor Wallace added that it would be some years before the process could be used in human applications.
“That is why it is of such critical importance to be able to work with international partners in medical research like Boston Scientific, because they have the resources that allow us to move the research forward as quickly as the regulatory authorities will allow.”
ACES, which has its headquarters at UOW, is hosting the Nanobionics Symposium at the University’s new Innovation Campus from June 22-25. Leading scientists from around the world will attend.
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