BASF promotes antibacterial materials at Compamed
The company uses the products to formulate customised material solutions for medical devices
BASF is exhibiting its portfolio of Hygentic antimicrobial products for the production of medical devices at the Compamed trade show in Düsseldorf, Germany (17-19 November, 2010).
BASF uses the product range to formulate customised material solutions for medical devices.
The company will work with customers to find solutions for medical device and equipment surfaces that durably prevent potentially hazardous microbial build-up. “Products featuring our additives support the measures of professional hospital hygiene,” Eichholz said, adding, “This minimises the risk of medical devices contributing to the acquisition of infections.”
Medical devices such as urinary and vascular access catheters made with Hygentic products provide an improved safety for patients and health personnel. The customised material solutions are mainly based on silver ions.
“Our broad range of products and our expert know-how enable us to offer customised formulations that meet specific customer needs,” Eichholz said.
BASF’s medical devices team has technical capabilities to produce customised formulations and incorporate them into a variety of materials, such as thermoplastics or silicones, at its technical centre at Tarrytown, New York.
“For manufacturers of medical devices and equipment we combine silver ions contained in a variety of substrates, e.g. glass, from the Hygentic portfolio selectively to meet the requirements of a given application. In the process, synergy effects enhance the efficiency of the individual components,”
According to Eichholz, the silver ions will act longer or faster, for example, in the formulations obtained in this way.
A dedicated microbiology team checks the various formulations obtained for antimicrobial effectiveness against relevant microorganisms, including mulitresistant pathogens like MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus).
BASF is also researching new generations of materials with novel surface effects that are of interest for medical devices and equipment, and offers cooperation opportunities for medical device manufacturers.
