Patent ID: 8916185

Claim:
A method for immobilizing controlled release agent-embedded polymer micro-particles, nano-particles or combinations thereof onto a polymer surface, the method comprising: suspending the agent-embedded polymer micro-particles, nano-particles or combinations thereof in a liquid non-solvent of at least one of: i) the polymer surface; ii) the agent-incorporated polymer micro-particles, nano-particles or combinations thereof; or iii) both the polymer surface and the agent-embedded polymer micro-particles, nano-particles or combinations thereof, thereby forming a non-solvent-particle suspension; adding the suspension to the polymer surface; and after the adding step, exposing the polymer surface and the agent-embedded polymer micro-particles, nano-particles or combinations thereof to vapor treatment, wherein the vapor treatment is applied for about 10 minutes at room temperature, and wherein the vapor treatment involves a solvent vapor of at least one of i) the polymer surface; ii) the agent-embedded polymer micro-particles, nano-particles or combinations thereof; or iii) both the polymer surface and the agent-embedded polymer micro-particles, nano-particles or combinations thereof, the vapor treatment being accomplished in a manner sufficient to partially dissolve at least one of: surfaces of the polymer surface; or surfaces of the agent-embedded polymer micro-particles, nano-particles or combinations thereof, thereby adhering at least some of the agent-embedded polymer micro-particles, nano-particles or combinations thereof to the polymer surface.