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MATERIAL EXPERTISE

Every year, Contipro takes another step towards greater pharmaceutical product variability and new applications. We are introducing novel materials prepared by our R&D specialists. These forms can be created by following our expertise and final production proofs with hyaluronan and its derivatives.

NANOFIBERS

Nanofibers made from hyaluronan, its derivatives or composite fibers can be produced by electrospinning using our patented 4SPIN technology. Fibers can be highly aligned, random layers, or spun into tubes using a variety of collectors and emitters.

Using the 4SPIN allows the formation of nanofibers into different structures, stacked layers, tubes and large sheets made up of different surface area weights or perfectly oriented nanofibers.

Applications of nanofiber materials could be e.g. wounds dressings, drug delivery carriers, nano-masks, tubes for internal use in surgery or scaffolds for tissue engineering.

Furthermore, nanofibers can be combined with other forms of materials like our very own microfibers or staple fibers.

MICROFIBERS

Hyaluronan based fibers can be formed into endless continual monofilaments, which can be prepared from various biodegradable derivatives of hyaluronan. They can have differing rates of water solubility, resorption time in the body and other biological and physical properties.

The mechanical properties of the fibers allow manufacturing using textile technology. Warp or weft knitting, various loop sizes, or single jersey style patterns are possible. Whether it’s a sheet or tube that is required, we can tailor make them based on your individual requirements. The characteristics of a thread can be altered by the combination of different monofilaments.

Knitted fabrics can be produced into various constructions, weights and sizes. Braided tubes or threads can be made 8 to 48 different monofilaments. Braids can be with or without a core. The fibers or textiles can be further modified by the introduction of active agents.

STAPLE FIBERS

Staple fibers are nonwoven textiles made from fibers that are shorter in length, typically 3 to 5mm. They can be prepared from native hyaluronan, its derivatives or a mixture of hyaluronan and other biopolymers.

These non-woven textiles can be made as self-supporting layers or can be applied to different variants of porous substrates.

The creation of multilayers and loading of active ingredients are possible. The solubility of the staple fibers in buffered saline can vary from seconds to several weeks.

Staple fibers can be sterilised and used for permanent implantable medical devices. A layer may contain only HA, with no admixture required. Multi-layered structures are also possible.

HYDROGELS

Our hydrogels are based on hyaluronan derivatives capable of cross-linking made possible by non-cytotoxic reaction which enables homogenous incorporation of cells and also in situ gel forming. After the process, material is insoluble in water. Selection of derivatives leads to desired mechanical properties.

Hydrogels can serve as scaffolds, material for augmentation of soft tissue or for viscosupplementation.

It is possible to incorporate cells, fibres, micro or nanoparticles, or active chemical/biological substances into their structure.

Hyaluronan hydrogels and their degradation products are fully biocompatible and biodegradable. 

THIN FILMS

Free-standing Thin Films are prepared from native hyaluronan or from its various derivatives.

Thin Films insoluble in water can be made from hydrophobized hyaluronan or from crosslinkable hyaluronan derivatives. Crosslinking can be initiated by chemical, enzymatic reaction or by UV. This also allows us to perform the crosslinking in the presence of cellsFilm swelling, degradation rates and mechanical properties can be controlled by the type of modification and the degree of substitution desired.

Contipro can prepare films with different additives such as active substances, dyes, magnetic or fluorescent nano-particles, and different types of carriers (e.g. polymeric micelles). Customised films are possible based on the individual requirements of the client.

POLYMERIC MICELLES

Hydrophobized hyaluronan self-assemble in aqueous solutions into polymeric micelles with distinctive core-shell structures, which then enables non-covalent encapsulation of poorly water soluble drugs. Drug delivery using this technique is therefore an option.

Mainly because of its biodegradability, biocompatibility and safety, hyaluronan offers a number of advantages over synthetic polymers in both nonparenteral and parenteral administration routes. Furthermore, hyaluronan in the shell of polymeric micelle can be used as targeting molecule to cells or tissues overexpressing hyaluronan-binding receptors, including pathological tissues rich in CD44 receptors.

Polymeric micelles were also found to be very useful in dermatological treatments for their ability to overcome stratum corneum barrier and deliver the hydrophobic drug into deeper skin layers.

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