Together with six other partners, CSEM has contributed to closing this gap with the EU project MEDILIGHT. This cooperation has proven that exposure to blue light has far more than just an antibacterial effect. The antiproliferative effect has now been clearly proven and shows that blue light prevents the epidermis on the wound surface from closing prematurely in the early healing phase. In addition, the consortium of European research laboratories has proven for the first time that, with a further suitable dose, blue light can efficiently activate vital skin cells, namely keratinocytes and fibroblasts, thus accelerating the final wound healing process. The developed prototype is the ideal solution for an intelligent, mobile system for treating chronic wounds with blue light, for example diabetic ulcers. In addition, the project created the prerequisites for a future commercialization of devices based on light therapy and to monitor wound healing.

“By discovering and demonstrating the effectiveness of blue light both for antibacterial application as well as for activating vital skin cells, MEDILIGHT allowed us to apply for two patents,” explains Marielle Bouschbacher, project manager at URGO, the participating industry partner and project leader. “MEDILIGHT is also paving the way for further important possible applications such as disinfecting medical instruments and operating environments.”


3D printing rapidly grows in medical technology

3D printing remains a hot topic at COMPAMED. Often termed Additive Manufacturing, the process is growing faster in medical technology than in any other field of application. According to a forecast by the market research company “Markets and Markets”, global 3D printing for medical products is expected to increase from $ 840 million in 2017 to around $ 1.9 billion by 2022, a yearly growth rate of 17.5%. Key factors for this rapid development are technological progress, an increase in private investments in this sector as well as the increasing application possibilities for the health industry. The growing market is divided into the large segment components, equipment, materials, software and services, with the last segment showing the largest growth. Here, the increasing development of progressive software solutions for manufacturing top quality, 3D-printed medical products is the main driving force.

The widely acclaimed seminar “3D fab+print” which took place last year at COMPAMED will be followed up with an all-day conference on this topic held at this year’s COMPAMED on November 12 (3D fab+print Conference on Additive Manufacturing for Medical Applications). Among the presenting companies is Evonik, who has been systematically working on improved materials for orthopedic surgery in their project house Medical Devices since 2014. “We are developing new solutions that help prevent operations or accelerate the healing process,” explains project house manager Balaji Prabhu. In the meantime, Evonik has established first materials on the market, among them a composite that consists of the polylactic acid RESOMER and a synthetic hydroxylapatite filler. Hydroxylapatite is the most common biomineral in the human body. This combination results in mechanical characteristics that are very similar to those of natural bones. RESOMER is completely degraded into carbon dioxide and water in the body, does not cause inflammatory reactions and is completely non-toxic.

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