Polyurethanes (PU) are widely used to make medical devices such as catheters, artificial hearts or implants. But their synthesis requires precursors extremely harmful to human health and the environment (isocyanates), and their hemocompatibility remains imperfect, resulting in frequent thrombotic complications.
Dr. Sofia Melo (Team of Prof. Cécile Oury, cardiology laboratory, Giga) and Dr Anna Pierrard (team of Prof. Christine Jérôme, CERM, CESAM) synthesized and tested new materials surpassing classic medical.
This new thermoplastic elastomer without isocyanate PU (Nipu), called poly (hydroxy-oxazolidone) or phox, is a transformable material in multiple ways to create various medical devices, including catheters, implants and even personalized 3D printed devices.
The team has demonstrated the higher biocompatibility and hemocompatibility of the phox compared to the conventional PU, both in vitro and in vivo.
Phox represents a real progress in the field of sustainable biomaterials for safer and more environmentally friendly medical applications.
A patent (WO2025082761) was filed to protect this innovation.
Reference
Poly(hydroxy-oxazolidone) Thermoplastic Elastomers for Safer, Greener and Customizable Blood-Contacting Medical Devices.
Adv Healthc Mater. 2025 Jun 19:e2502670.
Contact
Cécile Oury
