Product development
As the global population ages and emerging markets seek improved health care, the medical technologies and pharmaceuticals (MTP) sector is growing fast. According to CSIRO's MTP Roadmap it's estimated to be worth almost $3 trillion globally by 2025.
Australia is home to more than 500 companies working in the MTP sector. Many of these are small and medium enterprises, which sometimes struggle to transition from R&D and initial offering, to a sustainable product.
CSIRO's Biomedical Materials Translational Facility (BMTF) has the equipment, expertise and experience needed to help MedTech companies develop their product at pilot scale. The facility holds ISO 9001:2015 certification for the development and manufacturing of materials and devices suitable for preclinical investigation and Phase I clinical trials in Australia. Featuring an ISO 7 cleanroom, the BMTF is equipped for performing wet chemistry, materials synthesis, processing, device fabrication, and surface modification.
Our success stories
How do you mend a broken heart?
CSIRO worked with industry to develop LifePolymer™, which was transplanted into a man in the US in the form of a novel heart valve, to save his life.
Development of CSIRO’s 3D printable silicone
CSIRO is paving the way for a new era of manufacturing with silicone, with the development of unique silicone resins for making 3D printed medical parts.
Development of procoagulant blood collection tubes
CSIRO worked with Q-Sera to manufacture a formulation of RAPClot, a coagulant used in blood tests. We developed an entire workflow allowing for easy production of RAPClot coated blood test tubes.
Development of scaffolds for nerve repair
CSIRO was able to assist ReNerve in pioneering the repair or replacement of damaged peripheral nerves through the development of new polymer biomaterial scaffolds to support the growth of new nerve cells.
Our equipment
- ISO 7 Clean Room for:
- Materials synthesis, processing and fabrication
- Surface coating and modification
- Prototype fabrication
- Wet chemistry laboratories and synthesis facilities (batch, microwave, continuous flow, high shear mixing)
- Polymer synthesis and purification facilities
- Polymer processing equipment (extrusion, moulding, and 3D printing)
- Polymer coating equipment (UV grafting, spin, spray, dip, and parylene coating)
- Laminar flow and biosafety cabinets for reduced bioburden production
Plus, access to CSIRO’s extensive chemical and materials characterisation instrumentation and expertise, including AFM, SEM, XPS, TEM, NMR, GPC, TGA, DSC, DLS, FTIR, GC, HPLC, mass spectrometry suite, (photo)rheology, and mechanical testing instruments.
Use this service
We support businesses at all stages of the translation pathway, and at all stages of growth. We can tailor projects to meet your immediate and long‑term goals.
We can address most aspects of manufacture from fundamental materials design and testing, coating development, and device fabrication. We also work alongside our R&D facilities to gather the relevant biological data required.
We have various collaboration models for access which include fee‑for‑service and partnered research and development.
A range of funding sources may be available to you, for example through CSIRO's Kick Start.
To start the conversation, please contact us at bmtf@csiro.au.
Contacts
Location
Clayton central precinct
Research Way
Clayton
Vic 3168