Foster Corporation Emphasizes Antimicrobial Compounding 

Foster Corporation continues its leadership in medical device and pharmaceutical material solutions with antimicrobial technologies that are compounded into a base polymer and maintain polymer properties by preventing the build-up of 'biofilm' caused by microbial attack. These materials offer tremendous value for medical components, especially surgical tubing assemblies.

Bacterial infections in hospitals are a leading cause of death in the United States and can be caused by bacterial growth on plastic medical devices. In addition, bacteria can cause odor, staining, loss of electrical and mechanical properties, and has negative hygienic effects on plastic parts. Adding antimicrobial additives into a base polymer for catheter tubing applications can reduce the risk of the above problems occurring.

Foster Corporation offers the capability to melt blend a variety of antimicrobial additives into polymers. Among the antimicrobial technologies Foster has successfully worked with are silver based systems that work via the release of silver ions into the polymer. Oligon Technology is one of the most promising silver based antimicrobial technologies. It works via an iontopheretic oxidation reduction reaction caused by the active interaction of silver, platinum, and carbon powder and is effective and long lasting.

Foster works with numerous other silver based antimicrobials as well as non-silver products such as triclosan based systems.

Foster Corporation is the global leader in the design, development, and transformation of polymers into biomedical materials via melt blending/hot melt extrusion (HME) with the addition of functional additives and pharmaceutical excipients for the medical device and pharmaceutical markets.

For more information, please call 860.928.4102.