Metallic structures incorporating bioactive materials and methods for creating the same

Abstract

Disclosed herein are methods to create medical devices and medical devices including bioactive composite structures. The methods include using electroless and electrophoretic deposition and codeposition methods for providing implantable medical devices coated with bioactive composite structures. In one use, the implantable medical devices of the present invention include stents with bioactive composite structures.

1 . A method comprising: 
 providing a first bath comprising metal ions and at least one bioactive material wherein said metal ions and said at least one bioactive material in said first bath are provided at a first ratio;    contacting a substrate with said first bath;    forming a bioactive composite structure with a first concentration of metal ions and said at least one bioactive material on said substrate using an electrochemical process;    altering said first ratio between said metal ions and said at least one bioactive material to form a second ratio;    continuing to form said bioactive composite structure on said substrate using an electrochemical process but with a second concentration of metal ions and said at least one bioactive material.    
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said electrochemical process is an electroless process or an electrophoretic process.  
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said altering of said first ratio to form said second ratio occurs in said first bath.  
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said altering of said first ratio to form said second ratio occurs in a second bath.  
     
     
         5 . A method comprising: 
 providing a first bath comprising metal ions and at least one bioactive material at a first ratio wherein said metal ions and said at least one bioactive material comprise a positive charge;    contacting a substrate with said first bath;    applying a negative charge to said substrate;    forming a bioactive composite structure on said substrate using an electrochemical process.    
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein said applying of said negative charge is continuous and said electrochemical process is an electrophoretic process.  
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein said method further comprises removing said negative charge from said substrate and continuing to form said bioactive composite structure through an electroless process.  
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein said applying of said negative charge is intermittent and wherein when said charge is applied to said substrate said electrochemical process is an electrophoretic process and wherein when said charge is not applied to said substrate said electrochemical process is an electroless process.  
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein said at least one bioactive material comprises a positive charge due to the coupling of a surfactant to said at least one bioactive material.  
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein after said forming of a portion of said bioactive composite structure, said first ratio in said first bath is altered to form a second ratio and wherein thereafter, said forming of said bioactive composite structure is continued.  
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein after said forming of a portion of said bioactive composite structure, a second ratio in a second bath is created and wherein said substrate is contacted with said second bath, thus continuing the formation of said bioactive composite structure.  
     
     
         12 . A medical device formed by a method comprising: 
 providing a first bath comprising metal ions and at least one bioactive material wherein said metal ions and said at least one bioactive material in said first bath are provided at a first ratio;    contacting a substrate with said first bath;    forming a portion of a bioactive composite structure with a first concentration of metal ions and said at least one bioactive material on said substrate using an electrochemical process;    altering said first ratio between said metal ions and said at least one bioactive material to form a second ratio; and    continuing to form said bioactive composite structure on said substrate using an electrochemical process but with a second concentration of metal ions and said at least one bioactive material.    
     
     
         13 . The medical device according to  claim 12 , wherein said electrochemical process is an electroless process or an electrophoretic process.  
     
     
         14 . The medical device according to  claim 12 , wherein said altering of said first ratio to form said second ratio occurs in said first bath.  
     
     
         15 . The medical device according to  claim 12 , wherein said altering of said first ratio to form said second ratio occurs in a second bath.  
     
     
         16 . A medical device formed by a method comprising: 
 providing a first bath comprising metal ions and at least one bioactive material at a first ratio wherein said metal ions and said at least one bioactive material comprise a positive charge;    contacting a substrate with said first bath;    applying a negative charge to said substrate;    forming a bioactive composite structure on said substrate using an electrochemical process.    
     
     
         17 . The medical device according to  claim 16 , wherein said applying of said negative charge is continuous and said electrochemical process is an electrophoretic process.  
     
     
         18 . The medical device according to  claim 16 , wherein said applying of said negative charge is intermittent and wherein when said charge is applied to said substrate said electrochemical process is an electrophoretic process and when said charge is not applied to said substrate said electrochemical process is an electroless process.  
     
     
         19 . The medical device according to  claim 16 , wherein said at least one bioactive material comprises a positive charge due to the coupling of a surfactant to said at least one bioactive material.  
     
     
         20 . The medical device according to  claim 16 , wherein after said forming of a portion of said bioactive composite structure, said first ratio in said first bath is altered to form a second ratio and wherein thereafter, said forming of said bioactive composite structure is continued.  
     
     
         21 . The medical device according to  claim 16 , wherein after said forming of a portion of said bioactive composite structure, a second ratio in said second bath is created and wherein said substrate is contacted with said second bath, thus continuing the formation of said bioactive composite structure.  
     
     
         22 . The medical device according to  claim 16 , wherein said substrate is a stent.