The term “biomedical textile” designates a niche area of the textile industry that creates and produces textile products for use in healthcare and medical applications. Biomedical textiles are made to be sterile, durable, and biocompatible in order to satisfy the demands of the medical sector. Numerous medical equipment, such as vascular grafts, implanted devices, surgical gowns, and wound dressings, among others, use biomedical fabrics. Hospitals, clinics, and research facilities are just a few of the places where these fabrics are employed in healthcare.
There are several benefits of using biomedical textiles in medical equipment. For instance, they can increase patient comfort, lower the chance of infection, and boost the general effectiveness of medical therapies. Additionally, the rise of the medical device sector and the resulting creation of new employment and business prospects are being driven by the development of novel and creative biomedical textiles.
The global biomedical textile market is anticipated to reach US $23,841.7 million by the end of 2030 expanding at CAGR of 7.3% from 2022-2030 (forecast period).
The discovery, manufacture, and use of textile materials in diverse medical applications make up the fast expanding worldwide biomedical textile market, a subsector of the medical device industry. Biomedical textiles are made to be sterile, durable, and biocompatible in order to satisfy the demands of the medical sector. These fabrics are utilised in a variety of medical equipment, such as vascular grafts, implanted devices, surgical gowns, and wound dressings.
A number of variables, such as the rising incidence of chronic illnesses, ageing populations, and the rising demand for sophisticated wound care and surgical procedures, are what are driving the market for biomedical textiles. The creation of fresh, cutting-edge biomedical textiles with higher functionality, performance, and biocompatibility is also promoting market expansion.
Global Biomedical Textile Market to Amid COVID-19 Pandemic:
Many businesses have been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 epidemic; however certain sectors of the biomedical textile market have experienced development in this period. During the pandemic, there was a large rise in the need for personal protective equipment (PPE), such as masks and gowns, which led to an increase in their manufacturing. The demand for biological textiles surged as governments and healthcare organisations throughout the world worked to obtain enough PPE supply.
Additionally, the pandemic has sped up the development of new medical technology and applications, opening possibilities for businesses that make biomedical textiles. For instance, the usage of telemedicine and remote monitoring systems, which need medical textiles for sensors & electrodes, has increased significantly.
The COVID-19 pandemic has a negative effect on several businesses, including the global market for biomedical textiles. The market is beginning to recover, despite the pandemic’s ongoing development.
The surgical gowns, drapes, implants, sutures, and other medical equipment that are part of the biomedical textile market. These goods saw a rise in demand during the pandemic, especially personal protective equipment (PPE) including masks and gowns. However, lockdowns, travel restrictions, and supply chain interruptions made it difficult to produce and distribute these goods.
Overall, the pandemic has had a conflicting effect on the biomedical textile sector, although there are prospects for expansion in some areas. The ageing of the global population and rising demand for innovative medical treatments and technologies are two factors that are driving the industry’s long-term growth prospects in a positive direction.
Growing Medical Textile Demand Drives the Global Biomedical Textile Market:
The market for biomedical textiles is expanding as a result of many causes, including:
- Rising Interest In Medical Textiles: Due to its expanding use in many medical applications, including surgical gowns, drapes, bandages, wound dressings, implants, and prostheses, medical textile demand is rising. The need for biological textiles has increased as chronic illnesses including diabetes, cardiovascular problems, and cancer are becoming more common.
- Technological Progress: The market for biomedical textiles is expanding as a result of the creation of novel and innovative materials and technologies such biodegradable and biocompatible fibres, smart textiles, and 3D printing. These developments are making it possible to create more sophisticated and efficient medical textiles, which are being employed in more and more medical applications.
- Population Ageing: As the world’s population ages, there is an increasing need for medical services and products, including biomedical textiles. The demand for medical textiles is fuelled by the fact that older people are more likely to develop chronic illnesses and need more medical treatments.
- Increasing Healthcare Spending: The biomedical textile industry is expanding as a result of governments and healthcare organisations spending more money on healthcare. The demand for medical textiles is rising, and this increasing spending is spurring innovation in the industry.
- An outbreak of COVID-19: The development of PPE, including as masks and gowns, and antimicrobial fabrics have seen notable expansion in the biomedical textile industry as a result of the COVID-19 epidemic. The epidemic has also raised demand for telemedicine and remote monitoring equipment, which use medical textiles for electrodes and sensors.
Overall, these factors are propelling the biomedical textile market’s expansion, and the trend is anticipated to continue in the years to come.
Emerging Markets for Global Biomedical Textile in North America:
One of the biggest markets for biomedical textiles is in North America, which is fuelled by factors including a sizable population, rising healthcare spending, and technological improvements. Canada and the United States, two countries in the area with highly advanced healthcare systems and large investments in medical R&D, are also included.
- Older Population: The ageing population is one aspect that is influencing the growth of the biomedical textile market in North America. The area has a sizable elderly population, who are more prone to need medical procedures and treatments including biomedical textiles. Due to the region’s rising usage of implants, prostheses, and wound dressings, innovative medical textiles are becoming more and more in demand.
- Technology Developments: Technology advances are another driver boosting the market for biomedical textiles in North America. Medical research and development are highly developed in the area, which is fostering innovation in the medical textiles industry. For instance, the use of smart textiles, such as wearables and sensors, in medical applications is on the rise and is opening up new business prospects for the biomedical textile sector.
- The COVID-19 pandemic: It has also had a considerable influence on the North American biomedical textile business, notably in the creation of PPE such masks and gowns. The epidemic has raised demand for these goods, opening up new business prospects for regional producers of biomedical textiles.
Overall, due to factors such an ageing population, technological improvements, and rising demand for medical treatments and gadgets, the North American region has considerable potential prospects for the biomedical textile market.
Competitive Insights:
There are several businesses working in the extremely competitive biomedical textile sector. B. Braun Melsungen AG, Smith & Nephew plc, Mölnlycke Health Care AB, Cardinal Health, Inc., DSM Biomedical, LifeSciences, Johnson & Johnson, and Medtronic plc are a few of the market’s top competitors.
These businesses are involved in the development and production of a broad variety of biomedical textiles, such as surgical mesh, implants, and dressings for wounds. Additionally, they are spending money on R&D to create novel goods that may fulfil the changing demands of the healthcare sector.
Companies are concentrating on strategic alliances and collaborations with other ecosystem participants in order to acquire a competitive edge in the market. For instance, some businesses collaborate with academic institutions and healthcare organisations to do research and development on medical textiles, while others work with suppliers and distributors to increase their market share.
In order to appeal to consumers who are becoming more aware of their environmental effect, businesses are also spending more in sustainability and eco-friendly production techniques. As consumers seek more environmentally conscious and long-lasting goods, this trend is anticipated to continue in the years to come.
- Partnerships and Collaborations: In 2021, DSM Biomedical and Adaptive3D collaborated to produce a novel photopolymer resin that can be printed in three dimensions and used to make customised implants and other medical equipment.
- Product Launches and Innovations: Integra LifeSciences unveiled a new range of surgical meshes in 2020 called DuraGen Plus® Dural Regeneration Matrix and DuraGen® Dural Graft Matrix. These meshes are intended to enhance patient outcomes and lower complications in neurosurgery.
- Expansion: To fulfil the rising demand for surgical mesh products in Latin America, Johnson & Johnson announced intentions to increase its surgical mesh production capacities in Brazil.
- Acquisitions and Mergers: To diversify its product offers in the hernia repair industry, B. Braun Melsungen AG purchased the surgical mesh product line from Flexicon AG in 2020.
Overall, there are many companies functioning in the highly competitive biomedical textile industry. To acquire a competitive edge and fulfil the changing demands of the healthcare sector, businesses are investing in sustainability, strategic alliances, and research & development.