Implant-associated local drug delivery systems for different medical applications

In recent years novel implants in particular have already proven to contribute substantially to enhanced quality of life, higher efficacy of therapeutic approaches, as well as patient safety. With the purpose to optimize the implant-tissue interaction the focus of efforts is on implants with a controlled, site-selective drug release. Therefore, we develop within the REMEDIS consortium implant-associated local drug delivery (LDD) systems for different medical applications. Engineering and natural scientists together with medical experts from all over Germany work in close collaboration to develop such innovative implants which combine the function as medical device and as LDD system. These include vascular stents and stimulation electrodes for the circulatory system and the ears, glaucoma stents for the eyes as well as auditory tube stents for the ears. Through its efforts to combine a LDD system into the functionality of implants, REMEDIS provides cutting-edge research into such medical technology.