Talk by: Professor Christian Grandfils

Overview of the applications of biodegradable polymers for
drug delivery and tissue engineering within the Interfacultary
Research Center on Biomaterials (CEIB) Centre Interfacultaire des Biomatériaux
University De Liege, Belgium

Abstract:

Synthetic biodegradable polyesters have unique and versatile properties which can be tailored to optimize medical implants and sustained drug delivery systems. However only a limited number of these polymers are actually available on the market, limiting thereby their evaluation in R/D activities. Adopting FDA approved polymer synthesis pathways (catalyst, melt polymerisation) we are optimizing polymer synthesis of functionalized polyesters for their future application in medical/pharmaceutical applications. Upon purification and characterisation these materials are processed under different forms, including nanomicro-dispersions, biodegradable hydrogels or composites and hydrogel/textile. Our main applications are linked to the pharmaceutical applications for the design of new drug delivery systems, in the field of biopharmaceutical drug immobilization in view to enhance their resorption and protect them from the biological aggressions. Two main families of materials (textiles and microcarriers) are also tailored to promote tissue engineering in particular to promote bone and cartilage reconstruction.

For further information please contact: Janne Kjærulff, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, DK2100 Copenhagen Ø
E.mail: jak@farma.ku.dk;35 33 64 82