The TKK Materials Technology Invention Award granted to inventors of new biomaterial

The 7000 euro Materials Technology Invention Award, which was granted for the first time, was given to researchers at the Laboratory of Polymer Technology at the Helsinki University of Technology, TKK. The inventors have developed a new kind of biomaterial for tissue engineering and drug delivery.

The basic idea behind the invention is that materials with controllable surface erosion can be obtained by combining the properties of two different kinds of polymers, polyesters and polyanhydrides, and by using hydrophobic alkenyl chains that affect the solubility. These materials find use in drug delivery and tissue engineering. A controlled dissolution of the polymer is crucial in both cases.

The invention was made by Professor Jukka Seppälä and the researchers Risto Hakala and Harri Korhone.  Professor Seppälä heads the Laboratory of Polymer Technology at TKK. The results have mainly been achieved in the Bio and Nanopolymer Research Group Centre of Excellence of the Academy of Finland which ended in 2007.

“New bioactive materials are a key in advanced drug delivery and in tissue engineering aiming at the ability to repair damaged or missing tissue. Our invention is by nature a basic invention with several routes to applications. These are now further developed in collaboration with our partners” Professor Seppälä explains.

“We appreciate very much the Award given to us. Biomaterial research is long term. The Award emphasises the importance of experimental research work and hopefully it improves the conditions for doing this type of work. Our invention is an evidence of the strength of cross disciplinary work in order to achieve breakthroughs. It is great that young researchers in our group get recognition through the Award” a pleased Professor Seppälä continues.  

The invention is brilliant and the opportunities for commercialisation have been an important aspect when making the invention. There is high quality biomaterial knowledge in Finland and the inventors are broadly networked with Finnish players in the field.

The Award Committee especially appreciated that the material is rather easy to fabricate and use in different applications.

“The awarded invention is a result of high level technology and scientific work and patent applications have been issued broadly world wide. There are also large international markets for the invention”, the director of the Foundation for Finnish Inventions and member of the Award Committee, Juha Jutila, concludes as further benefits of the invention.

The Materials Technology Invention Award is granted as an initiative of the UMK Center for New Materials at the Helsinki University of Technology, TKK. The objective is to enhance the commercial utilisation of results in basic research in material science and technology and related disciplines with a special emphasis in Finland. The Award was arranged in collaboration between the UMK Center for New Materials at TKK and the Nanotechnology Centre of Expertise in Culminatum Ltd. Helsinki Region Centre of Expertise. The Award is part of the NanoPumppu (NanoPump) project funded by the Uusimaa Region development program.

Picture of the inventors: http://www.micronova.fi/images/Seppalan_ryhma.jpg
From left to right: Harri Korhonen, Jukka Seppälä and Risto Hakala

Picture: http://www.micronova.fi/images/polyesterianhydridi.jpg
Light curing of poly(ester anhydride) from liquid to solid discoid in a mould.

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