Shape Memory Starchy Resorbable Implant – IRMAS

The context of the present project concerns the minimally invasive surgery, used to place medical device under endoscopic control.Recent studies in this area aim to set up shape memory polymers with the ability to change their shape in response to an environmental stimulus (temperature, or humidity), to be used as implants, stents, or suture wires. One of the main benefits is to facilitate the device introduction due to its weak size, before shape recovery.
The objective of the project is to develop and validate shape memory starch matrix, a natural polymer, for therapeutic and medical applications such as implantable medical device. Advantages of these dense matrix are to be obtained from low cost raw material and transformed by widespread process.Preliminary experiments on rat implantation have shown interesting bioresorbable properties.
Three complementary research laboratory from (i) INRA and (ii) INSERM and (iii) University Hospital Center are associated in this program, which experience are respectively (i) starch processing and mechanical properties (ii) new polymer materials setup for clinic applications and experimental validation (iii) Surgical speciality (confidential). This project is based on a generic patent application on the starch shape memory process (April 2008). One patent regarding the specific application developed in the IRMA Project will be filed. A partnership will be looked for among companies producing implantable devices and license will be granted.