Patent ID: 6387379
Filing Date: 2002-05-14
Classification: A61F,A61K,A61L,B05D,C03C,C04B,C08J,C08L,C23C,G02B

Abstract:
A method for modifying the surface of a material adapted for contact with tissue of a human or non-human animal to impart biofunctional, bioactive or biomimetic properties to said surface comprising:(a) exposing said surface to a solution comprising (1) a neutral or ionic water-soluble, hydrophilic, vinylic monomer, salt or mixture thereof, and (2) at least one biofunctional agent, the concentration of said biofunctional agent in said solution being in the range of from about 0.001% to about 50%, by weight; and (b) irradiating said surface with gamma or electron beam irradiation in the presence of said solution to thereby form on said surface a graft polymerized coating, said coating having physically entrapped therein or chemically bonded thereto molecules of said at least one biofunctional agent which imparts biofunctional properties to said surface; wherein said gamma or electron beam irradiation induced polymerization is conducted under the following conditions: (i) concentration of monomer and biofunctional molecules in the solution in the range of from about 0.1% to about 50%, by weight; (ii) total gamma or electron beam dose in the range of from about 0.001 to less than about 0.50 Mrad; and (iii) gamma dose rate in the range of from about 10 to about 2,500 rads/min., or electron beam dose rate in the range of from about 10 to about 108 rads/min.; and wherein the biological properties of said biofunctional agent are substantially retained under said gamma or electron beam irradiation polymerization conditions.