Bioelastic materials derived from the natural elastin for medical and technological uses.

A Spanish research group is able to synthesise and characterise polymers of the type poly(VPGVG) and related. These polymers, recently discovered by Prof. Urry´s group, show an enormous potential for biomedical uses. They can be synthesised as a solid matrix with mechanical properties similar to the natural elastin. The polymer shows an extremely high biocompatibility and can be designed with properties ranging from a complete lack of cell-adherence (prevention of post-surgical or post traumatic adherences) to being an excellent support for cell attachment and proliferation (tissue engineering). The degradation rate in the body can be also tuned from decades to days so it can be used in permanent orthopaedic implants (ligaments, tendons, blood vessels, artificial organs, …) as well as in drug delivery systems. Furthermore, if desired, the material can contract and expand as response to different stimuli such as temperature or pH changes or in the presence of certain molecules such as glucose and others. Thus, this functional matrix has been proposed for active and body-friend drug delivery systems that can detect the disease state and act only when needed (“second generation drug delivery systems”).

The research group, mainly composed by chemists and physics, is seeking contacts with academic or industrial groups with interest and capability to explore biomedical applications of these materials.