NextGen Materials 2025: The Convergence of Living Essence and Engineered Innovation
Poster-Pitch-Presentation
24.09.2025
Printed Self-Lubricating Catheters
JF

Dr. Jun Feng

Leibniz-Institut für Neue Materialien gGmbH

Feng, J. (Speaker)¹
¹INM Leibniz Institute for New Materials, Saarbrücken
Vorschau
4 Min. Untertitel (CC)

Soft catheters are widely used in medical treatments, surgeries, and endoscopic interventions. Elastomeric materials are used for these purposes, but their hydrophobic character leads to protein deposition and catheter-tissue friction during catheterization and causes tissue damage and patient discomfort. To address this issue, hydrophilic coatings are applied to the catheter surface, such as hyaluronic acid (HA), mucin, chitosan, poly (vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP), polyethylene glycol (PEG) or zwitterionic polymers. Besides, the Slippery Liquid-Infused Porous Surfaces (SLIPS) have also been explored which continuously renew a lubricant surface layer to reduce friction and protein deposition. Long term lubrication and friction reduction is an issue in all these designs, since coating deterioration or exhaustion of the infused lubricant set a time limit for the performance. Here we present a new strategy for enhanced and sustained lubrication of elastomeric tubes. We propose a catheter that incorporates living lubricant biofactories. These are genetically engineered bacteria capable of continuously producing HA which are included in the catheter wall. The catheter has a multilayer design with: (i) an inner silicone layer made of UV-curable PDMS for mechanical support, (ii) a middle layer of Pluronic diacrylate containing the biofactories for continuously producing lubricants and (iii) an outer shell layer of Pluronic diacrylate that confines the biofactories while allowing diffusion and controlled release of HA and enabling nutrient diffusion from body fluids. This structure is fabricated via coextrusion of prepolymer solutions followed by in-situ photocrosslinking. By embedding lubricant-secreting biofactories within the catheter, HA is continuously released, effectively reducing the friction coefficient of the catheter surface. The sustained lubrication makes the catheter suitable for long-term use.

Abstract

Abstract

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