5 Bioresorbable Implant Startups Reducing Stress Shielding in Patients
Traditional medical implants, such as metal or plastic devices, have been instrumental in treating conditions from orthopedic injuries to cardiovascular issues.
These implants remain in the body for a long time or permanently. However, despite their success, traditional implants present challenges like long-term complications, including infection, inflammation, and implant rejection.
Additionally, these implants may require secondary surgeries for removal, which can be costly and pose further risks to patients.
There is also the issue of implant-related stress shielding, where a rigid implant alters the natural stress distribution in the surrounding bone, potentially leading to bone weakening over time.
These challenges underscore the need for innovative solutions like bioresorbable implants. Unlike their traditional counterparts, bioresorbable implants gradually dissolve and are absorbed by the body after serving their purpose. This eliminates the need for additional surgeries to remove the implants and reduces the risk of long-term complications.
Bioresorbable implants reduce the risk of chronic inflammation and infection because they do not remain in the body indefinitely.
Moreover, they support the natural healing process by temporarily supporting tissues and bones before being safely absorbed by the body. This technology also mitigates the issue of stress shielding, promoting better long-term outcomes for patients.
Bioresorbable implants are attracting significant attention and investment in light of these benefits. This article will explore five promising startups that are developing bioresorbable implant solutions. These startups have the potential to grow rapidly, are in a good market position, or can introduce game-changing traffic control tech to the market in the next 2-3 years.
This makes them a great option to partner, collaborate, or acquire.
1. 4D Biomaterials
| Founding Year | 2018 |
| Headquarters | Nottingham, UK |
| Total Funding Amount | £2.3 Million |
| Last Funding Round/Amount | Seed/£200K |
| Website | https://4dmedicine.co.uk/ |
To address the problems related to traditional implants, 4D Biomaterials developed an innovative bioresorbable material known as 4Degra®. This material is based on polycarbonate urethane chemistry, which can be printed using Digital Light Processing (DLP) 3D printers to create highly detailed, bioresorbable medical devices.
The 4Degra® resin inks support the body’s natural healing processes and degrade safely into non-toxic by-products, which the body can metabolize and eliminate. The technology is versatile, allowing the material properties to be tailored from soft and flexible to firm and rigid, depending on the application requirements.
The primary advantage of 4Degra® over existing solutions is its ability to be 3D-printed into complex micro-scale geometries that were previously unattainable with traditional manufacturing methods. This capability is particularly beneficial for creating patient-specific implants that fit precisely and function optimally.
By using 4Degra®, the risk of long-term complications is reduced, and the need for removal surgeries is eliminated. This technology is also cost-effective, with enhanced patient outcomes and reduced healthcare costs due to fewer complications and surgeries.
4D Biomaterials is a fully owned subsidiary of 4D Medicine.
CEO Phil Smith has extensive experience in higher management roles, including Director, Manager, Consultant, and CEO. Before working at 4D Biomaterials, he was interim CEO at Interface Polymers Ltd.
Phil also worked as a business lead and BDM (Warwick Ventures Ltd.) for his MBA alma mater at the University of Warwick, Warwick Business School. His career achievements include being Fusion Meters Ltd’s divisional director for 7+ years. Phil also built and directed P N Smith Consulting Ltd, his own consultancy in the utility sector.
This bioresorbable implant startup raised its latest funding of £200K on Apr 3, 2024, from a Seed round.
2. Lattice Medical
| Founding Year | 2017 |
| Headquarters | Loos, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France |
| Total Funding Amount | €12.7 Million |
| Last Funding Round/Amount | Non-equity Assistance/ |
| Website | https://www.lattice-medical.com/ |
Traditional silicone implants used in breast reconstruction post-mastectomy often require replacement every ten years. It poses risks of additional surgeries and potential long-term complications like infection or implant rejection. Furthermore, many patients avoid reconstruction due to concerns over these complications and the overall invasiveness of the procedures.
To solve these problems, Lattice Medical has developed the MATTISSE implant, a 3D-printed bioresorbable tissue engineering chamber that facilitates natural breast tissue regeneration by using a patient’s adipose tissue.
This implant is made from a resorbable biomaterial, similar to those used in dissolvable sutures. This biomaterial gradually degrades within the body over 18 months. The implant has a porous base and a dome structure, allowing for customized shaping and volume that suits individual patient needs.
Unlike silicone implants, which may need replacement and carry risks of complications, the MATTISSE implant integrates seamlessly with the patient’s body, reducing the need for future surgeries.
In pre-clinical trials, the MATTISSE technology demonstrated promising results, with successful tissue regeneration in 90 days in animal models.
Julien Payen is the co-founder and CEO of this bioresorbable implant startup. He has 15+ years of expertise in deep-tech (materials, process, and medical applications) and funding of related projects. His competencies include R&D, textile & polymeric materials, filtration, innovation strategy, and funding.
Lattice Medical’s latest funding, a substantial € 12.7 Million, was raised on August 31, 2023, from a Non-equity Assistance round. This funding, led by WorldUpstart, a prominent investor in the medical and healthcare sector, clearly indicates the market’s confidence in Lattice Medical’s potential. The European Innovation Council also supports this startup.
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3. Bellaseno
| Founding Year | 2015 |
| Headquarters | Leipzig, Sachsen, Germany |
| Total Funding Amount | Publicly Not Disclosed |
| Last Funding Round/Amount | Early Stage VC/$1.13 Million |
| Website | https://www.bellaseno.com/ |
Traditional breast reconstruction silicone implants require replacement every 10-15 years due to risks such as capsular contracture, rupture, and deflation. Additionally, these procedures can lead to long-term complications and the need for multiple surgeries over a patient’s lifetime.
To solve these problems, Bellaseno has developed the Senella® scaffold, a 3D-printed bioresorbable breast implant. This technology utilizes RESOMER®, a clinically validated bioresorbable polymer designed to degrade safely over time as the patient’s tissue regenerates.
The Senella® scaffold supports tissue integration and allows fat injection from any angle, simplifying the surgical process. The scaffold is custom-made to match the patient’s specific needs, ensuring a personalized approach to breast reconstruction, augmentation, or revision surgery.
The innovative aspect of the Senella® scaffold is its ability to integrate fully with the body and gradually degrade.
In preclinical studies, the scaffold has shown a resorption period of approximately 2-3 years, allowing for natural tissue regeneration and reducing the risk of adverse reactions. Compared to traditional implants, the Senella® scaffold is over 90% lighter, significantly enhancing patient comfort and reducing the likelihood of complications.
Mohit Chhaya is the co-founder and CEO of this implant startup. He led the Bellaseno as CTO for the first three years and then took the CEO role.
Mohit holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Biomedical/Medical Engineering from Queensland University of Technology (QUT). He was also a Co-founder and Director of Biofabrication Design Solutions, a startup spun out of QUT.
Bellasno’s latest funding of $1.13 Million came from a Venture round held on 15 July 2019.
Related Read: Five robot-assisted surgery startups
4. Medical Magnesium
| Founding Year | 2015 |
| Headquarters | Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany |
| Total Funding Amount | $700K |
| Last Funding Round/Amount | Seed/$700K |
| Website | https://www.medical-magnesium.com/en/ |
One area of concern in traditional medical implants is the need for a second surgery to remove hardware after healing is complete. This exposes patients to additional anesthesia risks and potential complications.
Medical Magnesium has developed high-performance magnesium alloy implants using its mm.X implant technology. These implants are biocompatible, bioabsorbable, and bioactive, making them suitable for tissue engineering applications.
The startup technology focuses on creating magnesium alloys with a controlled degradation rate. This allows the implant to provide sufficient mechanical support during the healing process while being absorbed by the body at a predictable and controlled rate.
Medical Magnesium highlights that its implants improve patient outcomes by eliminating the need for a second surgery, potentially reducing risks of infection and complications.
Florian Coppers has been the co-founder and CEO of this startup since its inception. He holds a Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Business Administration and Engineering Materials and Process Engineering from the RWTH Aachen University.
Coppers is a mentor at the RWTH innovation incubation program and EIT Health Alumni. He is also an EIT regional coordinator for Aachen.
Medical Magnesium raised its latest funding of $700K from a seed round held on 28 April 2017. It is backed by Rice University, known for its practical science programs, research, and entrepreneurial activities in the field of science.
5. Avery Therapeutics, Inc.
| Founding Year | 2014 |
| Headquarters | Tucson, Arizona, US |
| Total Funding Amount | $530K |
| Last Funding Round/Amount | Acclerator/$30K |
| Website | https://averythera.com/ |
Traditional treatments for heart failure often fall short of restoring full cardiac function, leading to a high burden of morbidity and mortality. Current therapeutic options are limited to medications, mechanical devices, and, in severe cases, heart transplantation, which is constrained by donor availability and risk of rejection.
To tackle these challenges, Avery Therapeutics has developed MyCardia™, a tissue-engineered cardiac graft designed to restore heart function by promoting immunomodulatory repair.
MyCardia™ utilizes induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to create a biologically adaptive heart graft that can be cryopreserved and shipped ready-to-use. This technology leverages Avery’s proprietary manufacturing process to produce a scalable, off-the-shelf solution that integrates seamlessly with the patient’s body to promote natural tissue regeneration.
Compared to existing treatments, MyCardia™ provides long-term functional repair without the complications associated with mechanical devices or the need for immunosuppressive therapy required in heart transplants. Preclinical studies have shown that MyCardia™ can effectively improve cardiac function and quality of life for patients suffering from chronic heart failure.
Jordan Lancaster led this University of Arizona Spun off startup as its CEO. He also works as a Research Assistant Professor for the University of Arizona College of Medicine in Tucson. His educational background includes a PhD in Physiology from the same institution.
Avery Therapeutics’ latest funding of $30K came from an Accelerator/incubator-funded round on 23-Feb-2018.
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Authored By: Naveen Kumar, Market Research
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