The hydrogel can be loaded with small-molecule drugs. Release profiles can be tailored to clinical needs and surgical procedures, including sustained local delivery during the critical first days after surgery.

The hydrogel is composed of biopolymers and is designed for high biocompatibility. After release of the active pharmaceutical ingredient, the hydrogel undergoes complete non-acidic degradation.

The combination of strength and elasticity enables co-implantation with surgical hardware, including pedicle screws. This resilience supports use under challenging conditions such as minimally invasive surgery, while keeping the surgical workflow unchanged.

Spine is our first indication because of the extreme pain burden, prolonged length of stay, and high healthcare costs. The same ILA technology can be adapted to other orthopedic procedures where multi-day local drug delivery is desirable, including joint replacement and fracture fixation.

Initially tailored towards spine surgery, the platform is designed to be applied in other surgical indications, including joint replacements and fracture fixation.