Japan's Takeda Pharmaceutical Company has signed an agreement with US-based nanotechnology provider BioSurfaces to develop new therapeutic devices to treat gastrointestinal (GI) diseases.

To be pursued under a joint research programme, the devices will use BioSurfaces’ nanomaterial technology.

While Takeda will contribute through its scientific and technical expertise in gastroenterology, BioSurfaces intends to supply design for the medical device, fabrication technology and its nanomaterial expertise.

Takeda Pharmaceutical Sciences Materials and Innovation senior director Vincent Ling said: “Our research collaboration will lead to the development of cutting-edge use of biopolymers and device fabrication technology.

“Takeda has a long history of material innovation, and this collaboration with BioSurfaces is a further example of our expansion of therapeutic modalities into nano-scale biomaterials.”

The new technology is expected to address common GI disease indications such as strictures and fistulas.

"These attributes are promising for the next generation of medical devices and drug-delivery systems."

BioSurfaces flagship process is designed to produce nanofibrous materials from polymers approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Through its manufacturing method, the firm directly incorporates bioactive agents such as drugs into the nanofibers to allow localised release.

BioSurfaces president and chief technical officer Matthew Phaneuf said: “In addition to improved healing, our technology is designed to deliver drugs and/or bioactive agents directly to the disease area, putting the treatment right where it should be and not throughout the whole body, thereby reducing possible complications.

“These attributes are promising for the next generation of medical devices and drug-delivery systems.”

In preclinical studies, devices featuring BioSurfaces’ technology were reported to completely integrate with natural tissue of the body.