CORDIS provides links to public deliverables and publications of HORIZON projects.
Links to deliverables and publications from FP7 projects, as well as links to some specific result types such as dataset and software, are dynamically retrieved from OpenAIRE .
Exploitable results
The project concerned the development of commercially feasible methods of modifying the surfaces of biomaterials in order to improve the body's response to biomedical implants. These new methods had to be applicable to any design of medical devices, and suitable for the most common biomaterials. Emphasis was placed on processes that had manufacturing feasibility. The performance of medical devices used in invasive surgery depends on the coatings used. Coatings help make the polymers used in medical devices 'biocompatible' or rejection proof, and in the case of contact with blood 'haemocompatible'.
The physical and chemical methods of activating and functionalizing the most common biomaterials were examined and their surface characterization was evaluated. Chemistries for coupling bioactive molecules to functionalized and activated surfaces were also developed. These methods were then applied to different biomedical devices and materials and tested for complete in vitro and in vivo biocompatibility. Next, the manufacturing costs of the modification process were analysed. Research results were impressive. Approval for human clinical trials was gained for a wound dressing and an intravascular stent used in conjunction with percutaneous translumenal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). Proprietary processes were developed for attachment of heparin (an anticoagulant molecule) to all materials and devices, state of the art analytical methods for analysing heparin activity on surfaces, and development of an infection-resistant surface modification. This project has led to new products and applications in the fields of wound dressing, intravascular stents and blood compatible surfaces for oxygenators. Crucial but previously unknown aspects of biomaterial behaviour affecting performance were identified. Not only did the medical grade polymers need to be treated prior to the coating process, but the way in which the coating process itself was undertaken was very important. The same coating applied in different ways had substantially different impacts on the device's subsequent performance.
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