The orthopedic industry has decades of clinical use with polyethylene and metal implant for load-bearing applications. With a number of licensed polyethylene technologies currently on the market, CPG has extensive experience in developing the latest generation of polyethylene for the biomedical industry. As an alternative, significant ongoing research is aimed at developing hydrogel materials for use in load-bearing orthopedic applications.
A replacement for cartilage, itself a naturally-occurring hydrogel construct, is a goal for the orthopedic industry. The challenge in developing a synthetic cartilage based on hydrogel technology lies in attaining the mechanical strength, durability, and biocompatibility required for this application area.
CPG scientists have been working on hydrogel technology for load-bearing applications for several years. In addition to a number of patent protected and proprietary strategies available for this highly demanding application, CPG has the expertise to understand the testing required for these cutting-edge, biphasic materials.
One of our hydrogel systems is based on a combination of poly(vinyl alcohol) and poly(ethylene glycol) (see patent portfolio) that is manufactured in a novel manner, resulting in a highly elastic, viscously damped system that has spectacular lubricity.