Polymers for Medical Applications: An Overview of Polymeric Families and How They are Used to Treat and Diagnose Disease (2-Day Live Virtual Short Course, Nov. 2 & 4)

Polymers are increasingly finding use in medicine. Natural, synthetic, and biomimetic polymeric materials will be discussed in the context of the key role they play in advancing medical device technologies. Applications where polymers play a key role include (but are not limited to) biosensing, tissue replacement/repair, drug delivery through the oral and transdermal routes, gene delivery using nanoparticles, and Covid-19 vaccines

This two-day virtual course will address the breadth of different polymeric systems in a wide range of usage areas from medicine and drug delivery to medical devices. Attendees will get an overview of how to evaluate the many medical needs that can be addressed by clever use of polymers. Key takeaways from the course should include: an understanding of which medical devices are functionally dependent on the performance attributes of the polymers used; aspects of designing polymers for specific medical applications including device coatings and use of biomimetic polymers; how to evaluate the merits of using synthetic polymers over naturally-derived polymers for implanted devices; and assessing the ability to modify polymers to enable biodegradable and biostable coatings on devices.

Specific Topics Covered

Introduction to Polymers for Medical Applications; Biocompatibility 

• Integration of polymers with surrounding tissue; cytotoxicity

Gels, Crosslinked Systems and Stimuli-responsive Hydrogels

• Applications: contact lenses, adhesives in patches; triggered drug delivery

Drug/Protein/Gene Delivery; Nanostructured Polymers

• Self-assembly; nanocarriers for siRNA and mRNA; COVID-19 and other vaccines

Natural Polymers and Biomimetic Polymers

• Proteins; artificial proteins; biomimetic polymers/proteins; collagen, elastin

Biodegradable Polymers

• Sutures; fully-degradable implants; biocompatibility of degradation products

Tissue Engineering Scaffolds and Device Coatings

• Tissue compatibilization using coatings; functionalized surfaces that help to integrate implants; blood-contacting devices; artificial blood vessels; bio-artificial pancreas

Who should attend:

This course is likely to be of particular interest to scientists and engineers in medical device industries as well as in biotech companies involved in drug or gene delivery/ vaccines/nanomedicine. People working (or desiring to work) in any function that involves polymeric materials (R&D, Design Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Reliability, Materials Procurement, Regulatory Compliance, etc.) but who have not had directly relevant polymer science training are highly likely to benefit. Please note that some familiarity with chemical nomenclature and structure will be helpful, but a degree in chemistry is not a requirement to benefit significantly from this survey course.