Robert C DiLuccio
BioChemical Engineering Leader University of Virginia USA
Title: Soft tissue augmentation with novel synthetic polymers
Biography
Biography: Robert C DiLuccio
Abstract
Along with a trend toward living a longer, healthier life, more and more patients are looking to physicians to help them achieve a more youthful appearance. The skin's natural aging process manifests contour changes and rhytids secondary to the depletion of subcutaneous fat and the loss of dermal collagen. Traditionally, rejuvenation has been achieved with a face-lift by surgically tightening the skin. Today, a multitude of minimally invasive procedures are aimed at rejuvenation without the risk, recovery time, and expense of major surgery. The development and popularity of BOTOX RTM has opened the door for equally noninvasive, adjunctive treatment of dynamic rhytids and soft tissue augmentation. Soft tissue augmentation has become a popular means of addressing issues such as, contour defects that result from aging, photo-damage, trauma and/or scarification, or disease. A number of filling agents exist in the armamentarium. Therefore, the physician is responsible for knowing which substance is best suited to address a particular defect and the patient or disease process. rnThis presentation will address compositions and methods of use of novel polymeric materials for soft tissue augmentation and drug delivery. An exemplary composition for augmenting soft tissue can include an active ingredient, a carrier, and a cross-linking agent, wherein the carrier is cross-linked where the cross-linking agent and the active ingredient is combined with the cross-linked carrier into a combination having a therapeutic effect. Examples of current and future products will be discussed for this evolving technology that can lead to solutions for tissue regeneration.rn