MARACA training on nanotechnology-based medical device biocompatibility testing

“Nanotechnology-based medical devices require special attention to biocompatibility testing.”

Dr. Luc Van Hove of MARACA International will train the Safe-N-MedTech consortium partners on the regulatory requirements in Europe for biological toxicity testing of nanotechnology-based medical devices. This training is an introduction to the Medical Device Regulation 2017/745 and the REACH Regulation 1907/2006, last amended in 2021, which specify how nanotechnology-based medical devices need to be handled. The training will then introduce the EN ISO 10993 series of harmonized standards. It starts with the review of the current version of EN ISO 10993-01:2020. The focus will be on defining the list of the chemical components of the final product and on developing the biological toxicity risk documentation. Depending on the location and duration of the contact with the patient and on the toxicity of the component a set of biocompatibility tests will have to be performed. For nanotechnology-based medical devices these harmonized standards are applicable. However, due to the nature of the nanomaterials the general information of the standards are not sufficient and specific tests might have to be developed. Hence, special attention needs to be paid to biocompatibility testing for nanotechnology-based medical devices.