Infection Control Program
INFECTION associated with implantable devices such as pacemakers, cochlear implants and prosthetic joints continues to be an important medical consideration for surgeons and their patients. Bionic Technologies Australia's Infection Control Program is developing a special device coating that minimises the risk of bacterial infection following implantation.
Read more about Implant Infection Issues
Bionic Technology Australia's
research program aims to develop special coatings to make
implanted devices less susceptible to bacterial infection.
These special coatings will be based on technologically advanced polymers from the polyurethane family which are designed to safely biodegrade inside the human body. The coatings will be formulated with potent antibacterial agents.
Using the cochlear implant as the proof-of-concept, the device will be coated during manufacture and implanted as per the normal surgical means.
Once present in the body, the polymer coating will start to biodegrade. As this occurs, the antibacterial agent will be released in a controlled fashion. The combined effects of the antibacterial agent and surface loss from coating erosion results in a hostile environment for any contaminating bacteria and prevents biofilm formation.
The polymer erosion products will be non-toxic and the body will be able to excrete them via its normal means. The net result will be the mitigation of device infection.
Bionic Technology Australia's coating technology can be extended to other types of implantable devices with the polymer and antibacterial formulation customised to prevent local infection.
The project will be conducted by Bionic Technologies Australia as a collaborative activity between The Bionic Ear Institute, CSIRO, Victorian College of Pharmacy, The University of Melbourne and Cochlear Ltd with key collaborative input from Stephen O’Leary (BEI), Barrie Finnin (VCP), Roy Robins-Browne (U of M) and Mike O'Shea (CSIRO).
Bionic Technologies Australia
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