Absorbable biomaterials have transformed modern medicine, enabling implants, sutures, and drug-delivery systems that safely degrade after completing their function. Dr. Rao S. Bezwada has helped shape the field of bioresorbable polymers for more than three decades. As the inventor of Monocryl®, the absorbable suture that has generated more than $2 billion in worldwide sales, and the holder of more than 150 U.S. patents, his innovations have influenced everything from surgical sutures to next-generation biomaterials. In this episode of The Lattice, Dr. Bezwada joins Dr. Jenny Chen to discuss the science behind bioresorbable polymers, the chemistry that controls how materials degrade, and what the next generation of resorbable biomaterials could make possible.
⚠️ Disclaimer:
This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. The views expressed do not constitute engineering, medical, or financial advice. The technologies and procedures discussed may not be commercially available or suitable for every case. Always consult with a qualified professional.
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About Our Guest:
Dr. Rao S. Bezwada is a pioneering scientist and entrepreneur with more than 40 years of experience developing advanced absorbable biomaterials for medical applications. After two decades at Ethicon (Johnson & Johnson)—where he invented the globally successful Monocryl® suture and earned the Johnson Medal—he founded Bezwada Biomedical in 2003 to create next‐generation absorbable polymers. His portfolio includes over 150 issued U.S. patents spanning polyurethanes, amino‐acid based polymers, polyester amides, polyoxaesters, controlled‐release systems, and emerging materials for 3D printing of medical devices. His innovations have contributed to more than 10 FDA‐approved products and continue to shape the future of biomaterials and regenerative medicine.
Key Topics
- Dr. Bezwada’s journey from polymer chemist to inventor, entrepreneur, and founder of Bezwada Biomedical
- The invention of Monocryl® and how it grew into a product with more than $2 billion in worldwide sales
- How a single glycolic acid linkage became the key to controlling polymer degradation
- Why bioresorbable polymers can now be engineered to degrade anywhere from 70 days to three years
- How Dr. Bezwada expanded biodegradable materials beyond sutures to absorbable nylon, PET, and polyurethanes
- The chemistry behind bioresorbable polyurethanes and why they outperform traditional polymer systems
- How Bezwada Biomedical’s polymer platform became the foundation for FDA-cleared bone repair products
- Why traditional PLGA materials face challenges with acidic degradation and processing
- How polymer chemistry is enabling new applications in tissue engineering, drug delivery, and 3D bioprinting
- Why does developing new biomaterials often take decades despite strong clinical potential
- Dr. Bezwada’s perspective on why investors rarely fund foundational materials science
- The challenge of balancing mechanical strength, degradation rate, and biocompatibility in medical polymers
- How lessons from biomedical polymers could help address millions of tons of polyurethane waste
- Dr. Bezwada’s vision for the next generation of bioresorbable materials in medicine and sustainable manufacturing
Timestamps:
00:00:00 – FDA Approvals And Vanishing Materials
00:02:10 – Building Better Absorbable Sutures
00:08:20 – The Chemistry Behind Controlled Hydrolysis
00:11:00 – Why He Left Big Medtech
00:14:05 – Surviving Early Funding And Finding Revenue
00:16:10 – Beyond PLGA Toward New Polymers
00:22:15 – Making Fully Degradable Polyurethane Safely
00:29:10 – Abyrx Orthopedic Putty Applications
00:32:45 – How Licensing Partnerships Actually Work
00:36:15 – PEG Bioinks And 3D Bioprinting Needs
00:43:00 – Future Bets And The Funding Problem
00:49:15 – Advice For The Next Generation
00:51:05 – Closing And Disclaimer
Resources
🔗 Contact Dr. Rao Bezwada
🔗 Biomaterials & Technologies Discussed
- Bezwada Biomedical Polymer Platform
- Monocryl® (Ethicon)
- History of Synthetic Absorbable Sutures
- Polyurethane Waste Review (2024)
- MONTAGE® Settable Resorbable Bone Putty
- MONTAGE® for Cardiothoracic Surgery
- Global Polyurethane Waste Review (2024)
🔗 Watch & Learn More from Dr. Bezwada
- Bezwada Biomedical Publications & White Papers
- 3DHEALS Interview: Absorbable Polymers for 3D Printing
- The Story Behind Monocryl® and Dr. Bezwada’s Career
- Going Beyond PLGA
- From Feasibility to GMP Manufacturing
- Quality Systems & Proof-of-Concept Testing
🔗 Learn More About Biomaterials from 3DHEALS!
- Bench to Bedside: Bioprinting Innovations
- Biofabrication for Bones
- Biomaterials & Bioinks for Bioprinting
- Interview with Dr. Neeti Srivastava: Absorbable Polymers
- The Lattice Episode #115 with Dr. Paul Dalton
Supplementary Slides:
Glossary of Terms:
There are many technical terms to unpack, so here are some key definitions.
- Absorbable Material: A substance, such as a suture, designed to be broken down and safely absorbed by the body over time, eliminating the need for removal.
- Bioconjugated Drug: A medication chemically linked to another molecule (like a polymer) to improve its delivery, stability, or effectiveness in the body.
- Bioprinting: A 3D-printing process that uses “bio-inks” to create complex biological structures, such as tissues or organ replacements.
- Bone Putty: A moldable, medical-grade material used by surgeons to fill gaps in bone, aiding in healing and growth.
- Caprolactone: A chemical building block used to create flexible, slow-degrading polymers in medical devices.
- Degradation Clock: The chemical design of a material that dictates how long it takes to break down in the body (e.g., from 70 days to three years).
- Glycolic Acid: A chemical compound used to control the degradation rate of medical polymers; it allows chemists to set the “clock” for when the material disappears.
- Hard Segment: The rigid portion of a polymer chain (like in polyurethanes) that provides structural strength; degrading this part is a significant technical challenge.
- Hemostat: A medical agent or device used to stop bleeding during surgery.
- Hydrolysable Linker: A chemical bridge inserted into a polymer backbone that allows it to break down when exposed to water or bodily fluids.
- Hydrolysis: The chemical process of breaking down a material using water; this is how most “absorbable” implants dissolve in the body.
- ISO 13485: An internationally recognized quality management standard for companies involved in the medical device industry.
- MDI (Methylene Diphenyl Diisocyanate): A chemical building block used in making polyurethanes, often needing careful handling due to its toxicity.
- Monofilament: A single, smooth strand of material, often used in sutures to reduce friction and tissue irritation.
- Monomer: A small molecule that can be linked together with others to form a larger polymer chain.
- PEG (Polyethylene Glycol): A versatile, water-soluble compound often used in medical formulations and tissue engineering.
- PGA (Polyglycolic Acid): A simple, stiff, and highly degradable polymer used in early synthetic absorbable sutures.
- PLGA (Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)): A commonly used, FDA-approved copolymer known for its adjustable degradation rates, though it can create acidic byproducts.
- Polymer: A large molecule made of many repeating smaller units, forming the basis for plastics and biological materials.
- Polyurethane: A durable, versatile plastic; while often permanent, “absorbable” versions are being engineered to break down safely within the body.
- Scaffolds: Temporary, often 3D-printed structures that provide a framework for cells to grow into, eventually replaced by natural tissue.
- Soft Segment: The flexible portion of a polymer chain that gives the material elasticity or softness.
- Sternotomy: A surgical procedure that involves cutting through the breastbone to access the chest cavity.
- Suture: A medical stitch used to hold body tissues together after an injury or surgery.
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