Medical implants are of great importance to the medical community to collect data within the human body. However, implants cannot remain in the human body forever. Oftentimes implants are rejected by the human body as a self-defense mechanism against foreign objects. This leads to the very costly process of surgically installing and removing implants over relatively short periods of time. A method of removing implants from the body without performing a surgery could have the potential to reduce hospitalization time and save hospitals time and money.This research group is exploring the possibility of applying physical and chemical coatings onto medical implants to extend their lives within the body while possessing the capability of harmlessly dissolving within the human body.

Introduction

ObjectivesExperiment Design

We will be testing viability of two coatings: EP42HT-2Med, a chemical adhesive, and Nanofibrillated Cellulose, a biocompatible material. The coatings will be exposed to PBS, a solution that is chemically representative of the human body, to determine dissolution times. Then, the coatings will be exposed to reaction solutions containing acetone and sodium hydroxide to explore these chemicals as potential candidates to catalyze dissolution.

ReferencesKim, D., Xiao, J., Song, J., Huang, Y., & Rogers, J. A. (2015,

November 27). Stretchable, Curvilinear Electronics Based on Inorganic Materials. Advanced Materials 22 (2010): 2108-2124.Wileyonlinelibrary.com. Retrieved March 30, 2016,

Yin, L., Cheng, H., Shimin M., Haasch, R., Liu, Y., Xie, X., Hwang, S., Jain, H., Kang, S., Su, Y.., Li, R., Huang, Y., & Rogers, J. A. (2013). Dissolvable Metals for Transient Electronics. Advanced Functional Materials, 645-658.

Hwang, S., Park, G., Cheng, H., Song, J., Kang, S., Yin, L., Kim, J., Omenetto, F. G., Huang, Y., Lee, K., & Rogers, J. A. (2014, April 2). Materials for High-Performance Biodegradable Semiconductor Devices. Advanced Materials 26.13 (2014): 1992-2000. Retrieved March 30, 2016,

Acknowledgements Dr. Huanyu Cheng: faculty advisorNing Yi: graduate assistant

The coating selected must• Not interfere with the function of the device• Be biocompatible• Protect the device from the body• Be able to dissolve harmlessly in the human body• Produce products upon dissolution safe for the human

body

College of Engineering Research InitiativeLogan Hutton, Aneri Bakshi, Audrey Ferraro

Transient Dissolvable Medical Devices

Coating Reaction Solution 1

Reaction Solution 2

Solvent

EP42HT-2Med Acetone + PBS Sodium Hydroxide + PBS

PBS (control)

Nanofibrillated Cellulose

Acetone + PBS Sodium Hydroxide + PBS

PBS (control)