A team of researchers at Cornell University has developed a new biodegradable vascular graft that could transform the treatment of cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death worldwide.
Anova Biomedical co-founders Prof. Yadong Wang, biomedical engineering, and Anthony D’Amato, a postdoctoral associate in biological engineering and the chief executive officer of Anova Biomedical, have developed a metallo-elastomer that mimics the natural elasticity of arteries and veins. This innovation allows Anova to improve the current vascular graft technology, which only applies to vessels larger than five millimeters.
“Every year, between end-stage renal disease and cardiovascular diseases, there are millions of people suffering and dying,” D’Amato said. “There isn’t a viable treatment option for a lot of these patients. And we think our technology can help that.”
The metallo-elastomer graft technology could reduce many problems associated with traditional Teflon-based grafts. In contrast with the naturally elastic arteries in the human heart, Teflon-based grafts are rigid. This creates stress between the rigid tube and the flexible arteries, potentially causing inflammation and scarring that can lead to artery blockage. This is a key reason why grafts fail in 20 to 70 percent of cases, depending on the implant’s location.
Anova’s material, however, expands and contracts with blood flow and naturally degrades within nine to 12 months. As it breaks down, new blood vessels regenerate in its place, alleviating concerns about long-term foreign materials in the body.
“We don’t have to worry about this foreign material staying in the body forever, creating inflammation, causing a risk of clot formation and other such problems,” D’Amato said.
Anova’s eventual goal is to use the graft in cardiac patients. The first application would be for dialysis patients, who typically receive Teflon grafts or undergo surgery to connect an artery to a vein, creating a loop that directs blood into the dialysis machine and pumps it back into the body. However, this method fails 60 percent of the time within a year and is often accompanied by significant physical pain.
Cornell’s venture incubation system has been instrumental in helping Anova reach this significant milestone. In 2022, the Center for Technology Licensing awarded D’Amato $180,000 through its Ignite Fellow for New Ventures program. This program offers Cornell researchers a one-year training opportunity to establish and manage a startup and commercialize the technologies developed in faculty labs. Currently, Anova has licensed 11 design and manufacturing patents from the Wang lab.
In September, Anova was admitted to Cornell’s Center for Life Science Ventures, a residential startup incubator on the Ithaca campus. This support from the incubator helped Anova create the fourth generation of its cardiovascular graft design, leading to a strong elastomer suited for the environment.
The collaboration between Anova and Cornell received a $65,000 grant from FuzeHub, a not-for-profit organization that supports small and medium-sized businesses in New York State. Cornell’s support has enabled Anova to secure a $275,000 Small Business Innovation Research grant to fund a one-year project to further develop a 3D printing resin by August 2024. Additionally, in October, Anova won first place in the FuzeHub Commercialization Competition at the New York State Innovation Summit, securing a $150,000 investment.
Wang, a key member of Anova, reflected proudly on the initiative and the progress made so far. Anova will be conducting its experimentation in March this year to finalize the design for the graft.
“Assistance from the CTL and Cornell’s incubator network has helped Anova reach this point,” Wang said. “They’ve helped us refine our idea and connect with advisers who understand the regulatory path and who have guided companies from the seed and startup stage to maturity or exit. We really learned a lot through our engagement with the community.”
Adviik Singh Viratcan be reachedat as4346@cornell.edu.
