Publications

INJECTOGELS

Funding from the European Commission and the Province of North Brabant for Eindhoven based companies UPyTher and SupraPolix BV to bring a novel and improved therapy to patients with peritoneal cancer, with a total budget of EUR 2.8 million.

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SupraPolix' Supramolecular Polymers Bring Innovative Solutions to Cardiovascular TE

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.

Bioabsorbable and Bioactive Supramolecular Polymers for Biomedical Implants targeting Pelvic Organ Prolapse and Intracranial Aneurysms

An international consortium comprising academic hospitals, universities, research centers, and industrial partners, including SupraPolix, has today in Barcelona concluded a 4-years project targeting bioabsorbable implants for urologic and embolic conditions. More specifically, bioabsorbable meshes for pelvic organ prolapse and polymeric coils for intracranial aneurysms have been targeted.

bioabsorble and elastomeric mesh e-spun from supramolecular polymers with SupraB™

In model studies, the supramolecular polymers based on SupraB™ have shown to be able to provide the critically needed mechanical strength for implantable meshes used in pelvic organ prolapse repair. Moreover, the specific open microstructure of these meshes as obtained by electrospinning, facilitated tissue repair, accompanied by controlled bioabsorption of the polymeric scaffold. Thereby opening the way to reduce graft related complication currently observed in the clinically used non-degradable polymer meshes. Additionally, comprehensive studies confirmed the biomechanical compliance, biocompatibility and tunable bioabsorption of these supramolecular polymers and their compatibility with gamma and e-beam sterilization techniques. Finally, in vivo studies have also confirmed the possibility to introduce specific bioactivity to these materials via the modular mix-and-match approach originating from the Dankers group at the Eindhoven University. In this way, peptide-based cues could easily be introduced to the polymeric scaffold.

In this consortium, SupraPolix has teamed up with University Hospital Leuven, Coloplast, LifeTec Group, Eurecat, Neos Surgery, University Hospital Antwerp, Lodz University, and Eindhoven University.

Highlight on self-healing SupraB™ materials

After gaining recent attention in the international newspapers, such as the Daily Telegraph in the UK and the Repubblica in Italy, SupraPolix’ managing director Tonny Bosman co-authored a feature article in Wiley’s Macromolecular Chemistry and Physics journal. In this article, the hottest approaches in supramolecular self-healing materials are highlighted and have been rewarded with the issue’s front-cover as displayed on the right.

The article addresses the fact that sophisticated polymeric materials with “responsive” properties, such as self-healing, are reaching the market. Supramolecular polymers that owe their mechanical properties primarily to reversible hydrogen bonding interactions have frequently been employed as self-healing materials. The quadruple hydrogen bonding ureidopyrimidinone (UPy or SupraB™) unit is a particularly effective and versatile design motif, since it forms very strong but reversible linkages, and can be incorporated into virtually any type of polymer backbone, leading to materials with increased mechanical properties. In this feature article supramolecular polymers are presented, with an emphasis on those based on the UPy-unit, and their use in self-healing applications is highlighted and discussed.

Autonomous healing of a 15 wt% UPy hydrogel: from left to right: initial heart shaped hydrogel, flexibility and elasticity of the hydrogel, the hydrogel cut in two parts, and the hydrogel heart mended by pressing both original halves together.

Bosman and co-authors conclude that: “Supramolecular polymers are materials that are well-suited to display self-healing properties. The non-covalent interactions that are the hallmark of these polymers are dynamic, so that the materials become stimuli responsive and can be addressed by heat, light, or even contact pressure triggers. Therefore, supramolecular materials have the prime advantage that the self-healing properties are intrinsic to the material, so that there is no need for (reactive) additives such as (toxic) monomers or catalysts nor for the engineering of specific chemical reactions to effect the healing process.”, additionally they propose: “The intrinsic self-healing in supramolecular materials may be important for structures that are not easily accessible, such as those applied in aerospace or in oil and gas winning, or in materials that are not only difficult to repair, but that also do not directly appear to be damaged, such as fiber-reinforced polymer composites. Furthermore, more down-to-earth repair of adhesive coatings may as well benefit from the use of supramolecular materials. A simple thermal rejuvenation would do in these cases.”

SupraPolix offers a new concept in the world of plastics by separating the processability demands from the material demands: incorporation of already a small amount of its product SupraB™ in existing plastics dramatically simplifies their processing. As a consequence, production can be cheaper and faster, whereas the consumer will benefit from innovated products with unique material properties like self-healing. Moreover, combining SupraB™ with bio-based materials allows producers to comply with the environmental constraints of the near future without any concession to the quality of the materials.