Coating for medical devices

Abstract

The invention relates to a coating for medical devices. The coating comprises a specific copolymer of which the composition may be adjusted such as to achieve an excellent adhesion to a wide range of surfaces. The coating may further comprise an additive, such as a biologically active agent, which may be released in vivo in a controlled manner, as the degradability of the coating may also be adjusted to a predetermined rate. The invention further relates to a process for applying the coating to a surface and to a medical device comprising the coating.

1 . A coating for a medical device comprising a copolymer of a polyalkylene glycol terephtalate and an aromatic polyester.  
     
     
         2 . A coating according to  claim 1 , wherein the polyalkylene glycol is chosen from the group of polyethylene glycol terephtalate, polypropylene glycol terephtalate, and polybutylene glycol terephtalate.  
     
     
         3 . A coating according to  claim 2 , wherein the polyalkylene glycol is polyethylene glycol terephtalate.  
     
     
         4 . A coating according to  claim 1 , wherein the polyester is chosen from the group of polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene terephthalate, and polybutylene terephthalate.  
     
     
         5 . A coating according to  claim 4 , wherein the polyester is polybutylene terephthalate.  
     
     
         6 . A coating according to  claim 1 , wherein the copolymer comprises 20-90 wt. %, preferably 40-70 wt. %, based on the weight of the copolymer, of the polyalkylene glycol.  
     
     
         7 . A coating according to  claim 1 , wherein the weight average molecular weight of the polyalkylene glycol is from about 150 to about 4000, preferably from about 200 to about 1500.  
     
     
         8 . A coating according to  claim 1 , wherein the weight average molecular weight of the copolymer lies between about 10,000 and about 300,000, preferably between about 40,000 and about 120,000.  
     
     
         9 . A coating according to  claim 1  further comprising an additive.  
     
     
         10 . A coating according to  claim 9 , wherein the additive is a biologically active agent chosen from the group of antimicrobial agents, such as antibacterial and anti-fungal agents, anti-viral agents, anti-tumor agents, immunogenic agents, lipids, lipopolysaccharides, hormones and growth factors.  
     
     
         11 . A coating according to  claim 9 , wherein the additive is a biologically active agent is chosen from the group of peptides, oligopeptides, polypeptides and proteins.  
     
     
         12 . A coating according to  claim 1 , applied to a surface chosen from the group of metals, metal alloys, ceramics, glasses and polymeric materials.  
     
     
         13 . A coating according to  claim 12 , wherein the surface is a surface of a medical device chosen from the group of catheters, stents, fibres, non-woven fabrics, vascular grafts, porous metals for e.g. acetabulum revision, and porous scaffolds for tissue engineering.  
     
     
         14 . A coating according to  claim 1  which is porous.  
     
     
         15 . A method for applying a coating according to  claim 1  to a surface, comprising brushing, spraying, wiping, dipping, extruding or injecting.  
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 15 , wherein the surface is cleaned and/or subjected to a mechanical treatment prior to application of the coating.  
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 15 , wherein the coating is applied from a solution or suspension of the copolymer.  
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein a biologically active agent is included in the solution or suspension.  
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein a pore-forming agent is included in the solution or suspension.  
     
     
         20 . A medical device comprising a coating according to  claim 1 .  
     
     
         21 . A medical device according to  claim 20  chosen from the group of catheters, fibres, non-woven fabrics, vascular grafts, porous metals for e.g. acetabulum revision, dental filling materials, materials for approximation, adhesion of tissues, materials used in osteo-synthesis (e.g. pins or bone screws), cardiac patches, sutures, soft and hard tissue scaffolds and fillers (e.g. collagen, calcium phosphate, bioglass), stents, bone void fillers intended for the repair of bone defects, intrauterine devices, root canal fillers, drug delivery pumps, implantable infusion pumps, spacer devices, implants containing medicinal products, and scaffolds for tissue engineering.