Abstract:
Initiator polymers having an initiator group and a ligand group are provided. The initiator polymers are capable of specifically binding to a receptor on a surface. Using a macromer system, the initiator polymers are useful for the formation of a polymeric matrix on the surface of a material. In particular, initiator polymers are provided that have specificity to pancreatic β cells and can be used to encapsulate cells for transplantation and the treatment of diabetes.
Abstract:
A barrier adapted to be positioned between a first surface provided in the form of a polymeric, bioactive agent-containing coating upon a medical device, and a second surface provided by another material positioned in apposition, and preferably moveable apposition, to the first surface. The barrier, as provided by block copolymers or photoderivatized polymers, provides protection to the polymeric composition from mechanical damage and/or delamination during fabrication, storage, delivery or deployment, and/or residence of the device within the body. A combination that includes a medical device, such as a stent, and another device, such as a surrounding sheath or internal expandable balloon, between which is positioned a barrier of the type described.
Abstract:
A coating composition, and method of applying such a composition under conditions of controlled humidity, for use in coating device surfaces to control and/or improve their ability to release bioactive agents in aqueous systems. The coating composition is particularly adapted for use with medical devices that undergo significant flexion and/or expansion in the course of their delivery and/or use, such as stents and catheters. The composition includes the bioactive agent in combination with a combination of a first polymer component such as polyaryl(meth)acrylate, polyaralkyl(meth)acrylate, or polyaryloxyalkyl(meth)acrylate and a second polymer component such as poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate).
Abstract:
A grafting reagent and related method of using the reagent to form a polymeric layer on a support surface, and particularly a porous support surface, in a manner that provides and/or preserves desired properties (such as porosity) of the surface. The reagent and method can be used to provide a thin, conformable, uniform, uncrosslinked coating having desired properties onto the surface of a performed, and particularly a porous, polymeric substrate. The method includes the steps of a)- providing a porous support surface, b)- providing a nonpolymeric grafting reagent comprising a photoinitator group, c)- providing one or more polymerizable monomers adapted to be contacted with the surface, in the presence of the grafting reagent, and to be polymerized upon activation of the photoinitiator; and d)- applying the grafting reagent and monomer(s) to the surface in a manner, and under conditions, suitable to coat the surface with the grafting reagent and to cause the polymerization of monomers to the surface upon activation of the grafting reagent.
Abstract:
Surface coatings including microparticles immobilized in a polymeric matrix on a substrate are described. The microparticles can also include an agent which can be useful for various applications, such as medical applications. This invention relates to the field of surface coatings for use in various applications. More particularly, the invention relates to surface coating useful for drug delivery, imaging and utilizing microparticles immobilized via a polymeric matrix.
Abstract:
A surface coating composition for providing a self-assembling monolayer, in stable form, on a material surface or at a suitable interface, as well as a method of preparing such a composition and a method of using such a composition to coat a surface, such as the surface of an implantable medical device, in order to provide the surface with desirable properties. The method provides the covalent attachment of a SAM to a surface in a manner that substantially retains or improves the characteristics and/or performance of both the SAM and the surface itself. Covalent attachment is accomplished by the use of one or more latent reactive groups, e.g., provided by either the surface and/or by the SAM-forming molecules themselves.
Abstract:
A surface coating composition for providing a self-assembling monolayer, in stable form, on a material surface or at a suitable interface, as well as a method of preparing such a composition and a method of using such a composition to coat a surface, such as the surface of an implantable medical device, in order to provide the surface with desirable properties. The method provides the covalent attachment of a SAM to a surface in a manner that substantially retains or improves the characteristics and/or performance of both the SAM and the surface itself. Covalent attachment is accomplished by the use of one or more latent reactive groups, e.g., provided by either the surface and/or by the SAM-forming molecules themselves.
Abstract:
A crosslinkable macromer system and related methods of preparing the system and using the system in the form of a crosslinked matrix between a tissue site and an implant article such as a tissue implant or on the porous surface of a prosthetic device. The macromer system includes two or more polymer-pendent polymerizable groups and one or more initiator groups (e.g., polymer-pendent initiator groups). The polymerizable groups and the initiator group(s), when polymer-pendent, can be pendent on the same or different polymeric backbones. The macromer system provides advantages over the use of polymerizable macromers and separate, low molecular weight initiators, including advantages with respect to such properties as nontoxicity, efficiency, and solubility. A macromer system of the invention can be used as an interface between the tissue site and implant article in a manner sufficient to permit tissue growth through the corsslinked matrix and between the tissue site and implant. In a preferred embodiment, polymers with pendent polymerizable groups, for use in the macromer system, are prepared by reacting a polysaccharide polymer with a reactive moiety in an organic, polar solvent such as formamide.
Abstract:
A reagent composition adapted to be coated onto a support surface in order to provide that surface with a high density of reactive groups. The surface, thus coated, can be used for any suitable purpose, and is particularly well suited for use as a solid phase synthesis support surface. The synthesis support surface, in turn, can be used in repetitive and combinatorial syntheses such as the synthesis of polynucleotides, polypeptides and polysaccharides. The polymeric coating can be used to provide increased effective surface area, particularly in situations in which the effective area of the support surface is itself limited, as on the surface of a silicon wafer. In so doing, the polymeric coating provides an optimal combination of such properties as reactive density and surface area or volume.
Abstract:
An anchored dilator includes a push tube having proximal and distal push tube portions. A dilator tip is coupled with the distal push tube portion and is configured for selectable coupling with a catheter. The dilator tip includes an anchor cuff having a cuff interface. The anchor cuff is configured to transition between a shuttle configuration having a shuttle profile and an anchored configuration having an anchored profile larger than the shuttle profile. A cuff operator assembly is configured to transition the anchor cuff between the anchored and shuttle configurations. The cuff operator assembly includes a cuff operator movably coupled with the dilator tip, and an operator shaft coupled with the cuff operator. The operator shaft extends toward the proximal push tube portion. Actuation of the cuff operator with the operator shaft transitions the anchor cuff between the shuttle configuration and the anchored configuration.