TissueGen Inc., a developer of cutting-edge biodegradable polymer technology for implantable drug delivery across a wide variety of therapeutic applications, has announced the availability of its Elute biodegradable drug-loaded fibre products, including pharmaceutical loaded fibres and growth factor loaded fibres. 

TissueGen’s core technology includes patented processes for extrusion of biodegradable drug-loaded fibres at room temperature.  The innovative process is said to preserve the biological activity of incorporated drugs and therapeutic agents, thereby enabling drug delivery and sustained therapeutic release through implantable medical devices.

TissueGen says its patented extrusion process at room temperature enables delivery of the widest selection of drugs and biologically-based entities directly to targeted internal sites via its Elute biodegradable drug-loaded fibres.

“Tailored design allows tuneable release profiles and a unique biomaterial format for delivery of a broad range of therapeutics from small pharmaceuticals to protein-class drugs such as enzymes, growth factors, and even viral particles,” the company says. 

“Drugs incorporated in the fibre at the time of extrusion enable implantable medical devices to meet demanding performance requirements using commercially available polymers such as PLLA, PGA, PLGA and PDO and customers’ proprietary materials for specific applications.“

Elute biodegradable drug-loaded fibres can also be loaded with biologically derived agents such as peptides and protein-class drugs including growth factors, enzymes, cytokines, carbohydrates, oligonucleotides, and even live viruses. 

TissueGen adds that its patented process provides a high degree of retained biological activity and that it has extensive experience loading sensitive growth factors such as Nerve Growth Factor (NGF), Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF), as well as other sensitive biological molecules including immune proteins, enzymes (i.e. IgG), and live adenoviruses. “These sensitive therapeutic agents are ideally suited for advanced research applications to serve as scaffolding in regenerative medical applications,” TissueGen states.

“Elute biodegradable drug-loaded fibres have the potential to revolutionize the capabilities and performance of implantable medical devices resulting in faster healing, improved patient compliance, and lower negative outcomes at relatively low cost,” said Christopher Knowles, CEO of TissueGen.

“TissueGen loads biodegradable fibres with the widest selection of drugs and therapeutic agents ever possible thanks to our patented room temperature extrusion process resulting in controlled and localized delivery in the body.”

Implantable devices

Available direct-to-market in fibre format or as a textile through TissueGen’s preferred medical textile partner, Biomedical Structures, LLC (BMS), Elute biodegradable drug-loaded fibres are said to be ideal for use in implantable medical devices where the ability to deliver drugs may add significant value.

Elute biodegradable drug-loaded fibres are also said to be ideally suited for woven, knitted, or braided formats and BMS offers extensive expertise in manufacturing medical textile devices.  TissueGen’s ability to deliver tailored fibre size and strength is critical because these fibres must be capable of being woven, knitted or braided to provide mechanical structural support for demanding medical applications.

Medical applications include custom drug delivery, cardiology, dermal wound healing, peripheral nerve regeneration, sutures, vascular stents and grafts, orthopaedics, and general surgery.

TissueGen will be exhibiting with Biomedical Structures, LLC at BIOMEDevice Boston from April 10-11, 2013.

www.tissuegen.com