Rupert Tscheliessnig, Martin Zornig, Eva M. Herzig, Katharina Luckerath, Jens Altrichter, Kristina Kemter, Adnana Paunel-Gorgulu, Tim Logters, Joachim Windolf, Silvia Pabisch, Jindrich Cinatl, Holger F. Rabenau, Alois Jungbauer, Peter Muller-Buschbaum, Martin Scholz, and Joachim Koch.

The demand to develop convergent technology platforms, such as biofunctionalized medical devices, is rapidly increasing. However, the loss of biological function of the effector molecules during sterilization represents a significant and general problem. Therefore, we have developed and characterized a nano-coating (NC) formulation capable of maintaining the functionality of proteins on biological-device combination products. As a proof of concept, the NC preserved the structural and functional integrity of an otherwise highly fragile antibody immobilized on polyurethane during deleterious sterilizing irradiation (≥ 25 kGy). The NC procedure enables straight-forward terminal sterilization of bio-functionalized materials while preserving optimal conditioning of the bioactive surface.

Click here to read the Full Text

Materials Today (2012) 15(9), 394-404
doi: 10.1016/S1369-7021(12)70166-9