ENTrigue Surgical is exploring exciting and value added applications for the BioElast family of polymers in Otolaryngology. These next generation biomaterials are comprised of chains of linked molecules of 4-Polyhydroxybutyrate—also known as nature's polyesters. These materials are truly biosynthetic as they are produced through the process of transgenic fermentation by bacterial cells in a bioreactor.
When implanted in the body, BioElast undergoes both bulk hydrolysis and surface erosion, but without the acidic degradation byproducts characteristic of traditional absorbable biomaterials. Its excellent biocompatibility combined with a moderate absorption rate enables BioElast materials to provide outstanding strength retention and assistance of cell ingrowth. This material is available in a number of configurations, including monofilament suture, knitted mesh, and film to serve a number of potential applications in Otolaryngology.