Magnesium Elektron develops bio-absorbable alloys

27 March 2012

MAGNESIUM ELEKTRON DEVELOPS BIO-ABSORABLE MAGNESIUM ALLOYS FOR MEDICAL IMPLANTS

Manchester UK
March 27 2012

Magnesium Elektron today confirmed that for several years it has been actively working on the development and production of bio-absorbable magnesium alloys at its Magnesium Technology Centre in Manchester, UK.

The work has involved extensive research into numerous alloy systems and the development of novel manufacturing technologies. The last decade has seen a significant increase in the amount of research being undertaken across the globe on bio-absorbable materials, particularly in the fields of orthopaedic trauma fixation and vascular intervention, where the use of metallic implants is commonplace.

Magnesium alloys offer the potential to combine the mechanical property benefits of metallic implants with the bio-absorbable nature of degradable polymers.

The promising initial research undertaken by Elektron in this field led to the creation of a dedicated team to further the development of the technologies that emerged. In conducting its research, Elektron has worked in close collaboration with its university network and a number of leading medical device companies in Europe, Japan and North America.

Through these collaborative programmes, the new Elektron Synermag® range of bio-absorbable alloy technologies has already undergone considerable in-vitro and in-vivo evaluations. Further evaluations and trials are planned during 2012.

Commenting on the activity, Graham Wardlow, Managing Director of the UK operations, stated that “the development continues our seventy year history of creating new platform technologies involving magnesium, previously focusing on the aerospace, defence and nuclear power sectors. In this developing field of healthcare materials, we have combined our existing material know-how with new ideas and technologies; supporting the research drive of medical device companies to produce bio-absorbable metallic implants that offer improved patient outcomes.”

Magnesium Elektron is wholly owned by the Luxfer Group, an international materials technology company specialising in the design, manufacture and supply of high-performance materials and components to the environmental, healthcare, protection and speciality markets.

For additional information please contact:
Dr Sarka Jeremic
Product Group Manager – Biomaterials
Telephone: +44 161 911 1253
Email: Sarka.jeremic@magnesium-elektron.com)
or join us at the following exhibitions:
Implants 2012, OrthoTech Europe 2012, MedTech Ireland 2012.