SupraPolix' Supramolecular Polymers Bring Innovative Solutions to Cardiovascular TE

22-05-2017

Together with leading academic and industrial partners in the field of biomaterials science and tissue engineering from The Netherlands, Switzerland, and Germany, SupraPolix is developing its supramolecular polymers further towards their use as bioresorbable implants for Tissue Engineering (TE). The ultimate goal is the development of an off-the shelf available synthetic heart valve that gradually transforms into a living heart valve at the site of implantation and that lasts a life-time (ImaValve).

More specifically, the goal is a living heart valve that is grown inside the patient’s body at the site of destination and that consists of the patient’s own tissue. As such, the valve should be able to repair itself and grow with the patient. Therefore, the valve is a device that consists of a slowly degrading elastomeric supramolecular polymer, processed into a valve shape via a process called electrospinning. The valve can be placed in the body in a minimally invasive fashion using a stent and a delivery device.

Clearly, the combination of tunable elastic performance and degradation behavior, proven biocompatibility, and the ‘mix-and-match’ modularity of SupraPolix’ supramolecular polymers comprising SupraB, is a perfect match for this challenging field of cardio-vascular TE.

A video clip made by partners Eindhoven University, University Hospital Zürich, SupraPolix, Xeltis, MediCut, and Appletree, gives an illustrative insight into the ImaValve project. Please, take a look to see how it works by clicking on the picture below.