Hydrophilic polymers are presently incorporated into the design of a rich variety of biomedical and pharmaceutical products. Contact lenses, ocular implants, a surfeit of drug delivery systems, lubricious coatings for less invasive devices, biological adhesives, antithrombogenic coatings, soft tissue replacement, and permanent implants are a few of the current commercial applications that incorporate hydrophilic polymers. Issues related to product feasibility, ease of manufacture, and product-process constraints, as well as environmental and regulatory concerns all have a direct bearing on the agenda of designers and engineers.

Hydrophilic Polymer Coatings for Medical Devices provides a practical guide to hydrophilic coatings technology for applications in this wide range of medical materials and devices. It concisely provides both the scientific basics of this class of polymers and the information needed for product development and evaluation, processing, manufacture, and regulatory compliance. Numerous schematics illustrate materials, processes, and equipment.

From the Preface: “...The information is presented in such a way that the requirements and considerations associated with [the development of hydrophilic polymer coatings for medical devices] form the basics for the major topics discussed. The decision to present these particular topics in the order in which they appear is based on personal experience. Presented in this manner, it is hoped that the information will serve as a reference through all stages of formulation design, product development, pilot operations, process scale-up, and actual manufacture of the product.”

Target Audience: Any personnel involved in product development and evaluation, process engineering, and manufacturing management in the hydrophilic coatings and medical devices fields.

Table of Contents:

The Property of Wettability

Hydrophilicity and the Structure of Hydrophilic Systems

Common Hydrophilic Polymers

Considerations for Development and Manufacture

Surface Preparation

Coating Application and Curing Techniques

Surface Analysis, Testing Methods, and Process Monitoring

Regulatory and Safety Concerns

Applications

Concluding Remarks

Index