Cross-linked polyethylene oxide coatings to improve the biocompatibility of implantable medical devices

• US 5,645,882 A
• Filed: 11/29/1995
• Issued: 07/08/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alcon Manufacturing Limited (Alcon Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Alcon Laboratories Incorporated (Alcon Incorporated)
• Inventors: Llanos, Gerard
• Primary Examiner(s): DUDASH, DIANA L
• Application Number:
  US08/564,696
• Time in Patent Office: 587 Days
• Field of Search: 427/2.24, 427/337, 427/535, 427/536, 427/538, 427/488, 427/491
• US Class Current: 427/2.24
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/206 Ethylene oxide
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/34 Macromolecular materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 29/085 Macromolecular materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 33/068 obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds A61L33/062 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 71/02 Polyalkylene oxides

Abstract

Polyethylene oxide (PEO) coatings providing improved biocompatibility for implantable medical devices are disclosed. The PEO coatings comprise functionalized end-capped PEO which is attached at one end to the medical device. The PEO compounds are then exposed to a high energy source for a time sufficient to cause the PEO compounds to form a cross-linked, insoluble network. These PEO coatings am able to survive ethylene oxide sterilization procedures with minimal loss of protein or cell repulsion ability.

Claims

1. A method of producing a polyethyleneoxide-coated implantable medical device which is to be sterilized using ethylene oxide, wherein the method comprises

(a) modifying the surface of the medical device in a heptylamine gas plasma;

(b) exposing the modified surface to a buffered solution of an aldehyde terminated-polyethyleneoxide having a molecular weight of about 8000 and sodium cyanoborohydride for a time sufficient to covalently bind the terminal aldehyde of the polyethyleneoxide to the modified surface; and

(c) exposing the bound polyethyleneoxide to an argon plasma for a time sufficient to cause the polyethyleneoxide to form a cross-linked, insoluble network; and

(d) sterilizing the medical device using ethylene oxide.