Rapra runs with PROTEC

Rapra Technology has secured €1.4 million of EU funding and assembled a consortium that will develop supercritical fluid processing technology in order to make advanced multifunctional biodegradable polymer devices. Desk research and other preliminary work has already begun on the new research project which is known as PROTEC.

Rapra Technology Project Leader, Emyr Peregrine, said: “These polymer-based medical devices are, most typically, made of materials that are able to dissolve and be absorbed into the human body.

“There are a whole host of examples in the medical and dental fields but general types of product include biodegradable plastics screws and rods for pinning and repairing ligaments; devices for internal drug deposition; orthopaedic mouldings; wound sutures and staples; cardiovascular and intestinal supports; polymer tissues, sponges and mouldings.”

The polymers involved in many of these medical devices - leading groupings include PGA, PLA, Caprolactone, P-dioxanone - are typically specialist, expensive and, according to RAPRA will benefit from gas or fluid assisted processing at lower temperatures. “Part of our project will involved mapping out which of these polymers will benefit most from assisted processing in this way,” said Peregrine.

Peregrine noted: “Super critical carbon dioxide has a unique set of properties, having the diffusivity of a gas but the solvating power of a liquid. When injected into the polymer melt these features manifest themselves by lowering the polymer melt viscosity.

“This can facilitate a reduction in melt processing temperature which in turn can lead to improved material stability, improved flow properties and an enhancement in process economics. These benefits are very much in line with the requirements of biodegradable polymers and will be explored fully by the Protec project.”

Biomaterials account for nearly 60% of the expanding European medical device market which is valued at €55 billion per annum.