Patent ID: 8367093

Claim:
A method of forming a functionalized surface on a coating on an implantable device, wherein the coating comprises a polymer, the method comprising (a) subjecting the coating to an activation process selected from the group consisting of ozonation, a first plasma, UV irradiation, gamma irradiation, electron-beam irradiation, and a combination thereof to form an activated coating surface, (b) treating the activated coating surface with a second plasma, and (c) immersing the activated coating surface treated by the second plasma into a solution that comprises a thermal free radical polymerization compound such that a compound or a plurality of the compound is grafted onto the coating surface, wherein the free radical polymerizable compound grafted coating thus made comprises a functionalized polymer selected from the following: wherein: m, n, o, p, and q are independent positive integers ranging from 1 to about 100,000; R is H, or a short chain alkyl; X is O, NH, S, C(O)O, C(O)NH, —OC(O)O—, or C(O)S; and Y is a group or moiety having free hydroxyl group(s), amino group(s), or carboxyl group(s).