Plastics by prescription

Medical technology is a continual growth market. New drug delivery systems, in particular, have great potential. The more precise and user-friendly they are, the more they contribute to the wellbeing of patients and therapeutic success. That is why manufacturers of drug delivery systems are increasingly relying on innovative materials such as Celanex® PBT and Hostaform® POM.

The requirements for using polymers in the medical sector are very high. The US regulatory agency, the FDA, defines drug delivery systems, including any protective packaging, as a “medical device”. Purity, biocompatibility and sterilizability therefore head the list of specifications for plastics used in medical technology applications. At the same time, the materials used must also offer first-class mechanical properties, resistance to chemical media and corrosion resistance – just like the medical technology polymers (MT) from Ticona. These MT grades have already shown outstanding performance in numerous applications.

Proven duo for drug delivery systems

Celanex® PBT and Hostaform® POM are used in a pen-type delivery device to ensure smooth, precise administration of vital insulin. This innovative technology provides an uncomplicated system for setting the dose of insulin units, while injection is also simple, requiring far less strength than with conventional pens. Seven key components made from Ticona polymers help ensure that the pen functions accurately and reliably. The materials used in this application must have high dimensional stability and mechanical strength, even in thin-walled design.

Breathing freely with Hostaform® MT®

The good properties of Hostaform® MT® grades are also being used to advantage in dry powder inhalers for asthma treatment and electronic nebulizers such as eFlow® from the Starnberg-based company Pari GmbH. The medication cover made from POM plays a key role in the perfect operation of this device. Since it is opened and re-closed each time the device is filled, the cover is exposed to high mechanical stress. The material used must therefore have outstanding wear resistance, the ability to hold tight tolerances and good sliding friction properties. Besides meeting these criteria, Hostaform® POM also offers the necessary purity and traceability of starting materials and additives back to source, since MT® grades are manufactured on a separate, dedicated production line.

MT® plastic grades – precision and reliability for the future

In addition to Hostaform® POM and Celanex® PBT, the Ticona polymers Vectra® LCP, Forton® PPS, Riteflex® TPC-ET and GUR® PE-UHMW also make an important contribution to medical technology. They are similarly optimized for challenging applications and are approved by both the European and US regulatory agencies. This makes it easier for manufacturers to demonstrate the suitability of the plastics they use for medical applications – often a costly and time-consuming process – and so prepares the way for future developments to the benefit of patients.