The Covalent Advantage
There are multiple types of chemical bonds that may attach molecules together or to a surface.
Covalent bonding is the strongest and most durable of all types of chemical bonds. They are exceptionally stable on their surfaces in a variety of very harsh conditions and environments. MST focuses on covalent bonding strategies for its multiple molecular surface modification technologies to provide long-lasting function with little to no threat of harm to the surrounding tissue or local environment.
Van der Waals or hydrogen bonding is the most common and weakest of chemical bonds. These are commonly seen in antibiotics that are absorbed to a material surface or antibiotic bone cement. These types of bonds are easily broken and therefore have limited functional lifespan.
Ionic bonds are represented by many drug-eluting stents or hydroxyapatite-coated surfaces. These are of intermediate strength and are often used in anticipation of the molecule coming off the material surface. Additionally, they are not stable in many solvents including bodily fluids.
Technology and Science Driven
MST is a science and technology company dedicated to developing, licensing, and selling its technologies to companies who manufacturer or distribute end products. We invent, refine and provide a final surface modification strategy for specific products to meet our development partner company’s needs. This may include all scientific and technical support to achieve regulatory approval and scalable manufacturing.
One example is using this technology to treat joint replacement implants to kill any bacteria that comes into contact with them. MST would provide the transfer technology and supporting data required for FDA approval and assist with scalable manufacturing. From a business perspective, MST avoids investing in costly inventory and distribution infrastructure, significantly reducing anticipated costs.
Functionalized Surfaces
Our proprietary technology creates functional surfaces by modifying the outermost layer of a material with various molecules that impart that function. Our treatments are not coatings or paints, they are formed through stable covalent bonds, giving them excellent stability in a wide variety of conditions.
Our target applications focus on creating surfaces that are antimicrobial, killing bacteria on contact, lubricious, reducing resistance between materials to enable self-cleaning, and bioactive, promoting cellular adhesion and growth directly on the material’s surface to enhance biological activity.
