Synthetic bone for implants
Biomaterials company Promimic AB has recently acquired funding in order to commercialize its unique nano-technique for producing synthetic bone, improving the healing process of implants.
At present, Promimic is in the midst of an expansive period. In the past month, the company has grown from three employees to six, expanded its laboratory on the premises of Chalmers Innovation, has released its first commercial product and has acquired funding from Karolinska Development III. The money will be used to introduce the company´s technology on the international market for implants.
Improving implants
Promimic has developed and patented an exclusive technique for producing the body´s own building block for bones and teeth, hydroxyapatite. The method enables production of hydroxylapatite at nanometer level. This means that it has the same structure and form as is found naturally in the body. Implants that have a surface coating of this synthetic bone are accepted more quickly and are bonded by the body´s tissue in a natural way.
Stimulating bone growth
The company was founded in 2004 by Chalmers (University of Technology) researchers Martin Andersson and Per Kjellin together with Chalmers Innovation. The technique has been verified in independent collaboration with Professor Ann Wennerberg at the Faculty of odontology at Malmö University, who describes the joint research work:
“We have worked with Promimic´s unique surface modification for four years in experimental studies. Our results show that the new surface stimulates bone growth on the implant to a much greater extent when compared with a control surface. We think that this surface has great potential and we intend to continue with research projects in which the surface will be further evaluated."
Beneficial surface coating
Chalmers researcher Per Kjellin, who is one of the founders of Promimic, explains:
“Collaboration with such a prominent researcher as Professor Ann Wennerberg is extremely important for us. Through her studies, we can show that after just a few weeks, implants with our surface coating become anchored much more firmly and that the amount of bone that has attached to the surface is more than double the amount compared with a commercial titanium surface."
Facts about Promimic:
Founded: 2004
Origins: Chalmers University of Technology researchers Per Kjellin and Martin Andersson
Number of employees: 6
Revenues 2007: SEK 1.4 million
First product: Launched in 2007 — Biochip with a hydroxylapatite surface coating for the company Q-sense
