Engagement in advanced medical technologies

Research & Development

BMG has been engaged in development of advanced medical technologies through long-term close research collaboration with Institute for Frontier Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, contributing to our keeping higher advanced techniques and the lead in biopolymer suppliers. BMG will keep carrying on pioneering works to contribute to progress of the world’s medical technologies.

Main research projects

1. Novel Self-Degradable Medical Adhesive (Sealant), as an alternative to fibrin glue

   In cardio-vascular surgery, fibrin glue of blood products, are widely used for hemostatic and prevention of air leaks of the lungs, but they have the risk of infections including hepatitis C. This motivated BMG to start searching for an alternative safer adhesive, resulting in development of a “Two-Component Reactive Adhesive” containing naturally-occurring substance, not animal-derived ingredients. This adhesive, indicated for use as a medical sealant, has the following excellent properties: strong adhesivity, superior flexibility, disintegration time control in vivo, higher safety, and no infection risk. These properties were demonstrated in joint animal tests with Kyoto University. BMG is promoting further investigation to put the results forward into clinical tests as soon as possible.

   
   Self-degradable medical adhesive, “LYDEX”
2. Novel Tissue Adhesive

   Making use of own techniques in biodegradable and absorbable polymers, BMG succeeded in developing a highly functional cyanoacrylate adhesive with better adhesion performance and higher safety, which could cut down the problems involved including high cytotoxicity, less adhesiveness and less flexibility, in conventional cyanoacrylate adhesives.

3. Bone Fixation Devices with the Time Limit Biodegradability

   To get over the problems involved in clinically used bone fixtures containing Poly-L-lactide, BMG is endeavoring to develop a new bone fixation device, which is superior in strength and can optimize time required for degradation in vivo. The technology under research and development is for ‘Bone Fixation Devices with the Time Limit Biodegradability with high-strength, high-modulus and high bone-affinity’ containing composite materials:

   • Poly-L-lactide to increase strength by high-orientation
   • Hydroxyapatite (HAp) added to increase modulus
   • other copolymers and alkaline inorganic-substance added to control hydrolysis rate
4. New Medical Equipments made by Biodegradable Resins

   While biodegradable polymers including Poly-L-lactide attract attention as environment-friendly materials, they have problems with strength and heat resistance. BMG succeeded in establishing a new technique that enables radiation sterilization to biodegradable polymers and increases of dynamic strength, heat resistance and durability. Using the new technique, BMG now is endeavoring to develop biodegradable resins for medical equipments as new applications.