Peter Gabriele
Secant Group, USA
Title: Poly (glycerol-sebacate); a new bioelastomer with antimicrobial and immunomodulatory properties
Biography
Biography: Peter Gabriele
Abstract
One of the dominating “engineering features” of human organ systems is the variability of tissue modulus. Life is elastic. Yet, there are few bioelastomers available to the device designer that can be customized for a specific job. Secant Group has developed a new bioelastomer with inherent antimicrobial behavior that is the topic of this presentation. Medical device failure is in the news. We are facing an emerging crisis with implantable procedures from the combined effects of compliance mismatch and perioperative infection. After several decades of in vivo biomaterial “service” we are beginning to spot the consequences of exposing manmade materials to the human immune system. Are we truly using our integrated understanding of biotechnology, biomedical engineering, and bioengineering when we develop new engineering materials? There are two “pillars” to our immune system: the acute and the adaptive systems. The acute immune system is charged with managing janitorial duties like acute microbial infection; whereas, the adaptive immune system orchestrates the required remodeling of the wound space around an implanted device for a lifetime. A successful surgical implant must minimize the potential chaos of acute systems intervention in the adaptive healing process. Today, surgical site infection (SSI) and hospital acquired infection (HAI) have emerged as urgent issues associated with implant engineering. Poly (glycerol-sebacate) or PGS is a new bioelastomer that can be custom designed for tissue compliance while providing the wound space with antimicrobial properties and immunomodulation. PGS may be the next ‘Holy Grail’ bioelastomer for implant protection and wound care management.