Released on = April 20, 2007, 4:17 am

Press Release Author = Bharat Book Bureau

Industry = Marketing

Press Release Summary = Biocompatible materials to comprise a $3.7 billion US market
in 2010

US demand for biocompatible materials will increase 6.6 percent annually to $3.7
billion in 2010. Gains will match the overall upward pace of end-use product
shipments as stricter FDA pre-market approval and production standards mandate the
upgrading of materials used in medical and dental implants and drug delivery systems


Press Release Body =
Biocompatible Materials forecasts to 2010 & 2015

Biocompatible materials to comprise a $3.7 billion US market in 2010

US demand for biocompatible materials will increase 6.6 percent annually to $3.7
billion in 2010. Gains will match the overall upward pace of end-use product
shipments as stricter FDA pre-market approval and production standards mandate the
upgrading of materials used in medical and dental implants and drug delivery
systems. Due to quality, performance and versatility advantages, synthetic and
natural polymers will continue to dominate the overall market for biocompatible
materials. However, metals and ceramics will continue to build niche opportunities
in specialty devices and equipment such as orthopedic and dental implants, pacemaker
and defibrillator components, and stents.

Synthetic biocompatible polymers to pace demand

Growth in the value of synthetic biocompatible polymers consumed in the production
of medical products will reflect advances in bioabsorbable and biocompatible
materials, which will broaden applications in high value-added products. In
addition, specialty medical grades of commodity and engineered resins such as
acrylic, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) and
polypropylene will retain widespread usage in a variety of implants. Silicones, for
example, will continue to serve high value-added applications in intraocular and
contact lenses, pacemaker leads, cochlear implants and breast implant outer shells.
Silicone is also building a number of specialty medical applications, including drug
delivery systems, elastic stomach bands for obesity treatment, cochlear implant
casings and urological slings.

In the biocompatible natural polymers segment, cellulose will remain the leading
material used in controlled-release oral drug delivery systems based on overall cost
effectiveness and improving performance properties. Advances in bioengineered
formulations will promote the rapid growth of collagen in tissue and dental implants
as well as craniomaxillofacial fixation devices. Among other natural biocompatible
polymers, hyaluronic acid (HA) will provide the best sales opportunities.

A wide range of implantable medical and dental devices will continue to be composed
partially or completely of specialty metals. Precious metals will sustain the
largest value of demand based on high cost and widespread use in dental fillings.
However, reflecting advantages of high strength, low modulus and body fluid
resistance, titanium and titanium alloys will provide the best growth opportunities.
For devices requiring greater flexibility, such as stents, stent grafts,
mobile-bearing joint replacements and spinal fixation devices, nitinol, stainless
steel and cobalt chromium will divide most demand.

Advances in nanotechnology will enhance the performance of biocompatible ceramics,
extending their applications in orthopedic and dental implants. Within this group of
biocompatible materials, new generations of alumina-zirconia nanocomposites are
expected to provide the best growth prospects. Due to a high density structure,
these nanocomposites have a great resistance to cracking. In orthopedic implants,
the materials are expected to enable the development of hip replacements with a
minimum product life of 30 years. This longevity will eliminate the need for
revision procedures



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