Method of incorporating carbon nanotubes in a medical appliance, a carbon nanotube medical appliance, and a medical appliance coated using carbon nanotube technology

Abstract

A method of coating an article is provided. The method includes: preparing a solution including a bioactive agent and a carbon nanotube precursor; treating the solution to form carbon nanotubes; and applying the solution to the article. A method of producing a medical device is provided. The method includes: forming a core of the medical device with a pattern on a surface of the core and assembling a multi-walled carbon nanotube array on the pattern on the surface. The pattern on the surface may determine an orientation of the multi-walled carbon nanotube array. A method of manufacturing a medical appliance is provided. The method includes creating a mixture of a carbon nanotube precursor and a polymer and injecting the mixture into a mold. The mold forms the mixture into a shape of the medical appliance. A method of forming a nanotube tissue scaffold is provided. The method includes forming a nanotube precursor and treating the nanotube precursor to form the nanotube tissue scaffold. The nanotube tissue scaffold is electrically conductive.

1 . A method of coating an article, comprising: 
 preparing a solution comprising a bioactive agent and a carbon nanotube precursor;    treating the solution to form a plurality of carbon nanotubes; and    applying the solution to the article.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the treating of the solution comprises at least one of waiting a predetermined period of time, drying the solution, heating the solution, and exposing the solution to one of a vacuum and a partial vacuum.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the applying of the solution comprises at least one of dip-coating and spray-coating.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the carbon nanotubes have a diameter of between about 1 nanometer and about 100 nanometers.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein, after the treating operation, the solution has a density of carbon nanotubes sufficient to create a multiple walled carbon nanotube array.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein, after the treating operation, the solution has a density of carbon nanotubes sufficient to create a porosity in a polymer matrix.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein, after the treating operation, the solution has a density of carbon nanotubes sufficient to create a nanotube foam operating as a membrane.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the carbon nanotubes are self-assembling.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the solution further comprises a polymer.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the polymer comprises at least one of polystyrene, polyisobutylene, butyl acrylate, and polyvinyl alcohol.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the solution further comprises tetrahydrofurane.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a composition of the carbon nanotube precursor determines a diameter of at least some of the plurality of carbon nanotubes.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the solution further comprises a further carbon nanotube precursor, another composition of the further carbon nanotube precursor determining another diameter of at least some others of the plurality of carbon nantotubes.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the article, when implanted in a lumen of a human body, releases the bioactive agent via the plurality of carbon nanotubes.  
     
     
         15 . A method of producing a medical device, comprising: 
 forming a core of the medical device with a pattern on a surface of the core; and    assembling a multi-walled carbon nanotube array on the pattern on the surface;    wherein the pattern on the surface determines an orientation of the multi-walled carbon nanotube array.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising contacting at least a first part of the multi-walled carbon nanotube array with a first bioactive agent dissolved in a first solution.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the orientation of the multi-walled nanotube array determines a release rate of the first bioactive agent.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising contacting at least a second part of the multi-walled carbon nanotube array with a second bioactive agent dissolved in a second solution.  
     
     
         19 . A method of manufacturing a medical appliance, comprising 
 creating a mixture of a carbon nanotube precursor and a polymer; and    injecting the mixture into a mold, the mold forming the mixture into a shape of the medical appliance.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising: 
 treating the mixture to form a plurality of carbon nanotubes, the treating operation being performed at least one of before and after the injecting operation.    
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising: 
 contacting the medical appliance with a coating comprising a bioactive agent.    
     
     
         22 . A method of forming a nanotube tissue scaffold, comprising: 
 forming a nanotube precursor; and    treating the nanotube precursor to form the nanotube tissue scaffold;    wherein the nanotube tissue scaffold is electrically conductive.    
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising: 
 implanting the nanotube tissue scaffold in a lumen of a human body.