Creating new types of dissolvable materials for medical uses
Stereoselective Polymerization Methods for the Synthesis of Degradable Biomaterials
This project aims to create new kinds of materials that can safely break down in the body, which could lead to better medical devices.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11075204 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are working on new ways to build polymers, which are the building blocks of many materials. They want to control how these materials are made so they can have specific properties, like how strong they are or how quickly they dissolve. The goal is to develop materials that are both strong and can degrade safely within the body, opening doors for advanced medical implants and devices. This involves using specialized chemical reactions to precisely control the structure of these new materials.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This foundational research is not for direct patient participation but could eventually benefit patients who need medical implants, sutures, or other temporary devices within their bodies.
Not a fit: Patients who do not require medical implants or devices that degrade within the body would not directly benefit from this specific materials science research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to safer and more effective medical implants and devices that can perform their function and then naturally disappear from the body.
How similar studies have performed: This research builds upon existing knowledge in polymer chemistry and asymmetric catalysis, applying novel approaches to address challenges in creating advanced degradable biomaterials.
Where this research is happening
Chapel Hill, United States
- Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill — Chapel Hill, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Leibfarth, Frank Albert — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Leibfarth, Frank Albert
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.