BioSurfaces’ patented electrospinning process allows incorporation of drugs, growth factors, radiopaque agents, or other bioactives directly into the fibers of both degradable and non-degradable materials. Where most biomaterials are manufactured under high-heat conditions and then dip-coated for drug delivery, BioSurfaces’ entire manufacturing process is conducted at room temperature, allowing drugs to be added when the polymer solution is made. By electrospinning a polymer solution already containing the desired bioactive(s), the nanofibrous Bio-Spun™ material is produced with an amorphous dispersion of the bioactive within each polymer fiber.
The advantages to drug-loading with this technology compared to existing technologies are compelling:
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Unprecedented duration of biologically effective drug release (>60 days in high flow environment)
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Bioavailability is often increased due to extensive dispersion of the agent
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No extraneous binding agents are necessary, reducing the potential for adverse complications
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Ultra-high surface area provides complete release of loaded drugs, even from non-degradables
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Release rate can be tailored by modifying electrospinning parameters and fiber size
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Drug-loading in low dosages (0.5-5% weight) strengthens the polymer by increasing crystallinity
Outperforming Industry Standards
Devices that are widely regarded as the gold-standards in clinical setting simply cannot compete with our drug-loaded electrospun materials when tested side by side, either at the benchtop (suture) or in preclinical studies (artificial artery).
Vicryl® Plus Versus Bio-Spun™ Antimicrobial Suture
Suture segments were embedded into an S. aureus-streaked plate and incubated overnight. Vicryl Plus (left), the industry standard antimicrobial suture, provided no visible antimicrobial activity after immediate removal from the package as shown by a lack of clear zone around the material (zone of inhibition or ZOI). BioSurfaces’ Bio-Spun™ antimicrobial suture (right) provided a clear circular ZOI.
Woven Polyester Artificial Artery Versus Bio-Spun™ Polyester Artificial Artery
Histology of industry standard woven polyester graft, left, shows visible separation of tissue from woven fibers (yellow circles) and thick clot formation on the blood contacting surface (yellow arrows) after implantation for 60 days. In contrast, the Bio-Spun™ drug-loaded artificial artery has capillary formation and excellent tissue integration throughout the material with single cell layer (green arrows) on blood-contacting surface with no visible blood clot.