Drug Integrated Polymer Fibers Market Size

Drug Integrated Polymer Fibers Market Size

Global Drug Integrated Polymer Fibers Market size was over USD 53.51 million in 2017 and will grow at a CAGR over 6.7% over the projected period.

Drug integrated polymer fibers include biologics and pharmaceutical loaded fibers made from polylactic acid, polydioxanone, polycaprolactone, polyglycolic acid and its derivatives used in implantable medical textiles for drug delivery, orthopaedic sutures, grafts and stents and dermal applications. Combination of textile technology and medical science has resulted into a new field known as medical textiles. New areas of applications for medical textiles have been identified with development of new fibers and yarns. Medical textile fibers made are usually biodegradable, nontoxic, non-allergic, non-carcinogenic and cater to wide range of medical applications.  These fibers are available in woven, knitted or braided form suitable for medical textile applications. The dimensions of the fiber can be tailored as per requirements.

Pharmaceuticals and biologics loaded fibers offer high mechanical and pharmacological support from the same device unlike traditional drug delivery formats such as microspheres and nano particles making it an ideal choice in future. Also, these fibers can be extruded as co-axial fiber, multi layered with each layer containing unique drug and polymer combinations. Biologics and pharma loaded fibers offers unique advantages such as slower drug release rate than similar geometries. With advancement of wet extrusion technology these fibers are both readily implantable and can maintain positional stability. These biodegradable drug loaded fibers provide support for arteries and organs through medical dressings and as these fibers dissolve, drug is delivered to the part where the body exactly needs it.

The drug integrated polymer fibers market is driven by technological developments, stringent quality control, safety regulations, rising healthcare expenditure in developing economies, aging population. However, lack of manufacturing standards possesses a restraint to the market growth

Orthopaedics was estimated to be the largest market of drug integrated polymer fibers due to known surgical procedures and rising obesity & osteoporosis problems globally. Also, the number of patients opting for implant surgeries have increased in age group of 55 years to over 80 years. Moreover, with rise in spending on healthcare facilities by developing countries of India, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, the demand of orthopaedic implants is expected to rise.

Overall, the demand of drug interated polymer fibers is estimated to grow at a health rate taking in to considertation rise in population growth globally, improvements in healthcare facilities in developing countries, rise in medical tourism facilities, innovative technologies and design, and rising purchaisng power on healthcare facilities globally. Developing countries such as China, India, Malaysia and Thailand will be potential markets for bone grafts in next 5 years as the rate of implants in these countries is less. In Europe, countries such as France and the U.K. offer healthy potential as they are less penetrated. In the Rest of World region, Brazil offers a strong potential for bone grafts as about 2 million orthpedic implants are done every year and the number is growing over the last decade. Mexico is one of the growing market and will show some traction in coming years. Innovative product designs and advancements in robotics, rise in 3D printing devices, smart implants, nanotechnology, biologics and tissue engineering will contribute to the market growth of drug integrated polymer fiber market.

North America dominated the drug integrated polymer fibers market because of prevalence of obesity and osteoarthritis patients along with higher spending on medical facilities especially in U.S. At present, TissueGen Inc. and Micro Engineering Solutions Inc are the two major player in the drug integrated polymer fiber business, but it is estimated that companies operating in the biodegradable bone graft polymers space will enter the market soon.