Leader of materials technology development at Lucideon publishes third book on medical polymers

Lucideon, the materials technology company, is pleased to announce that its Head of Medical Materials, Dr Xiang Zhang, has recently published his third book, Science and Principles of Biodegradable and Bioresorbable Medical Polymers.

A Royal Society Industry Fellow at the University of Cambridge and an eminent materials scientist, Dr Zhang undertook his PhD and postdoctoral research at Cranfield University where he studied nano/micro-mechanics and nano/micro-fracture mechanics of toughening polymers and polymer/inorganic hybrids. At Lucideon he leads on materials technology development, working on projects such as bioresorbable stents and inorganic controlled release technologies with abuse deterrent properties.

Dr Zhang is the author of two other books, published in 2014 and 2015 respectively: Inorganic Biomaterials: Structure, Properties and Applications; and Inorganic Controlled Release Technology, 1^st Edition – Materials and Concepts for Advanced Drug Formulation.

Dr Zhang said:

These books reflect many years’ experience in the medical materials arena. Since I started at Lucideon in 2010, I have worked on a range of diverse and ground-breaking projects, many of which I have referred to in these books in terms of how the fundamental science can be applied to industry.

Lucideon is well respected in the area of materials technology developments, particularly for the healthcare industries. As well as working as an extension of a client’s R&D team and participating in and leading EU-funded research projects, the company also has a commitment to developing innovative technology platforms for industrial applications.

It is this openness to innovation and a real desire to see science translated into industrial and commercial projects that has given me a solid basis from which to detail my research and knowledge.

Dr Zhang is currently heading up Lucideon’s coordination of the EU-funded ReBioStent project. Involving a number of industry and academic partners, the project aims to develop multifunctional biomaterials for reinforced bioresorbable drug-eluting stents. These newly developed biomaterials will be drug-loaded, bioresorbable and, compared to current bare metal stents, will have improved mechanical properties, thereby reducing the risk of in-stent restenosis and thrombosis.

Lucideon has also recently signed an exclusive feasibility, development and licence agreement with a subsidiary of Skyepharma PLC, the expert oral and inhalation drug development company. The agreement will provide Skyepharma’s oral business with access to Lucideon’s propriety iCRT-deter abuse deterrent controlled release technology.