Dissolvable Film Technology Offers New Capabilities for In-Vitro Diagnostic Devices
Glen Rock, PA (June 16, 2008) - Adhesives Research, Inc., a leading developer and manufacturer of custom pressure-sensitive adhesive tapes, specialty coatings, films and laminates for the medical industry, offers proven dissolvable film technology to support new applications and advancements in the design of in-vitro diagnostic medical devices.
Dissolvable film technology, first introduced to the consumer product market in 2001 in the form of breath strips and later to the pharmaceutical industry as a new means for drug dosing, now offers viable product design alternatives and manufacturing benefits to IVD manufacturers.
Among the key benefits of the technology to diagnostic device manufacturers - formulation flexibility, manufacturing efficiencies and increased choice of device design.
The formulation of dissolvable films from aqueous polymer matrices across a wide molecular weight (Mw) range provides the flexibility to achieve various physical properties that can be tailored to the IVD manufacturer's specific design needs. Characteristics such as thickness, dissolution rate, surface characteristics (texture) and mechanical properties (film strength) can be customized, making the technology well-suited to meet various design challenges of today's IVD devices. Other formulation benefits include controlled release of reagents and precise dosing which results in increased consistency and more accurate test results.
Because the films are produced in a continuous web format, the technology can offer significant manufacturing benefits as well. Unlike conventional methods where spraying or coating test strips with reagents can result in costly losses, dissolvable films enable homogenous loading of the reagent within the film, resulting in a dry, stable format, which means less waste and increased efficiencies throughout the process.
The intrinsic benefit of dissolvable film technology to the device manufacturer is the ability to completely customize the polymeric base to develop a system uniquely configured for each application in devices such as lateral flow, microfluidics and microplates. Dissolution rates may be tailored to allow for the controlled release (seconds to minutes) of reagents. Dissolvable films may also be used to create isolation barriers to separate components or reagents within a device for a timed reaction. The films may be used in devices requiring multiple layers containing one or more reagent, which increases the possibility of expanding this technology into lateral and vertical flow applications.
Adhesives Research is one of the world's leading independent developers and manufacturers of high-performance pressure-sensitive adhesives, tapes, specialty coatings, films and laminates. Founded in 1961, Adhesives Research offers problem-solving capabilities and custom solutions in adhesive polymerization, mixing, adhesive coating and release liner design supported by extensive product development and analytical support. The company's North American and Limerick, Ireland, facilities are certified to the updated ISO 9001:2000 standard.
Adhesives Research's pressure-sensitive adhesives are used around the world in medical diagnostics and devices, wound care, and pharmaceuticals/transdermals, as well as in electronics, displays, wireless telecommunications, window fabrication, and the pulp and paper industry. Based in Glen Rock, Pennsylvania, Adhesives Research also operates manufacturing facilities in Ireland and Colombia, has sales and marketing offices in Germany, Great Britain and Singapore, a representative office in Shanghai, China and sales representation in Japan, Korea and Taiwan.
For more information on Adhesives Research and its products, call 1-800-445-6240 (1-717-235-7979 outside North America) or visit our website at www.adhesivesresearch.com.
Media Contact - Adhesives Research
Anne Marie Swinehart
Public Relations Manager
Scheffey Integrated Marketing
350 New Holland Avenue
Lancaster, PA 17602
(717) 569-8274 ext. 14
F: 717.569.8276
aswinehart@scheffey.com
www.scheffey.com
