CHIANG MAI – Chiang Mai University (CMU) has begun the operation of its bio-plastic polymer laboratory for medical purposes and faster treatment, alleviating the demand of bio-plastic polymer imports.
CMU’s Associate Professor Sermkiat Jomjunyong, along with his team of researchers, announced the research findings of the high absorbance polymer for medical utilization under the cooperation with the National Research Council of Thailand, the National Innovation Agency, the PTT Public Company Limited, and Chiang Mai University.
He said that the production of the high absorbance polymer will commence at the bio-plastic laboratory of the CMU’s Faculty of Science, which is a high standard laboratory suitable for the production of materials for medical purposes.
Polymer production will commence in batches of one kilogram in each lot, to ensure the material’s best quality, while domestic production capability is expected to help reduce the polymer imports.
The high absorbance polymer produced in CMU’s laboratory can be utilized in many medical applications, such as the artificial nerve tube, bone binding screw, absorb-able sutures, and as other medical devices. The newly developed polymer is capable of being absorbed by the body, thus require no re-opening of operation wounds, and will help reduce the cost and time in medical procedures.