Wounds can
be closed by a variety of methods, and although the skill and technique of the
surgeon is important, so is the choice of wound closure materials. The purpose
of these materials is to create an optimal setting for wound healing, and maintain
wound closure until it is strong enough to withstand daily tensile forces. However,
in organs such as the heart, current technologies have significant drawbacks due to the high-stress environment with constant movement of muscles and flow of blood.
 |
| Gecko Biomedical's products. Top picture show GB-04, a patch for sutureless closure of wounds. Bottom picture show GB-02, a tissue sealant to complement sutures. |
The Paris-based
startup Gecko Biomedical is dedicated to the development and commercialization
of innovative wound closure solutions. They are developing a high-viscosity
polymer, like a surgical glue, that becomes an elastic, biodegradable film once
activated by UV-light. Over time, the glue safely degrades while the body’s own
tissue grows in its place, creating a permanent, natural fix.
Currently,
they are developing two products called GB-02 and GB-04. GB-02 is a tissue
sealant that can complement sutures specifically targeting cardiovascular
reconstruction, while GB-04 is a patch with glue for sutureless closure that
can be used for example in children born with defects such as a hole in the
heart.
The hydrophobicity
and on-demand curing allow the technology to be delivered through minimally
invasive procedures to challenging wet environments with no requirement of
tissue drying prior to application. This is key advantages over current
technologies that are hydrophilic and easily washed out before properly curing
due to the dynamic and water repellent conditions inside the body.
The
innovative adhesive platform address all of the drawbacks of previous systems
and provide physicians with a completely new, much simpler technology to
improve quality of life of patients following surgical procedures. The
adhesives maintain a very strong sticking power in the presence of blood, and
patches attached to the walls of a beating heart remained despite the high
pressure of blood flowing through the heart and blood vessels. And since the
adhesive can be applied with a syringe, many open-heart procedures could become
minimally invasive, cutting down the risk of infection and radically reducing
recovery times. The potential of the technology, and Gecko, is endless. They are working to expand their platform to additional applications in tissue reconstruction, and create an entire product portfolio based on the novel polymer that enables guided tissue repair.
The startup
was founded in 2013 by Christophe Bancel and Bernard Gilly from the iBionext
Network, Jeff Karp from Harvard Medical School, and Bob Langer from MIT. One of
their lead inventors, and current Head of Research at Gecko, Maria Pereira, was
named a Forbes 2015 “30 under 30” in healthcare, a list of scientists under 30 who
are changing the world.
Gecko
Biomedical recently raised $25.5 million, following a $10.8 million Series A in
December 2013. The round was led by the prominent European venture firm
Sofinnova Partners and investment bank Bpifrance, as well as existing investors
Omnes Capital, CM-CIC Innovation and CapDecisif Management. The funds will be
used to complete clinical plans in cardiovascular surgery, and seek regulatory
approval.
