Biomaterials with hydrophilic surfaces

A protein-compatible polymer film, said film being made by the shearing of a polymer blend, said polymer blend comprising:

• a. a water-soluble polymer selected from the group consisting of poly(ethylene oxide), poly(ethyl oxazoline), poly(vinyl alcohol), poly(acryl amide), and poly(vinyl pyrrolidone);
• and
• b. a matrix polymer selected from the group consisting of ethylene vinyl acetate copolymers, polyolefins, polyvinylchloride, polystyrene polymers and copolymers of polystyrenes, polycarbonate, polyacrylates, polyamide polymers and copolymers of polyamides, and polyester polymers and copolymers of polyesters;
• wherein the glass transition temperature of at least one of said water-soluble polymer or said matrix polymer is greater than the application temperature, which is the highest temperature at which the film will be exposed during distribution, storage, or usage, and while in contact with a protein-containing solution;
• and
• wherein protein adsorption of the polymer blend is reduced in an amount within the range of from about 16% to about 92% as compared to a protein adsorption of a second product comprising 100% by weight of the same matrix polymer.

A method of manufacturing a protein compatible film from a polymer blend, comprising the steps of:

• a. thoroughly blending a water-soluble polymer selected from the group consisting of poly(ethylene oxide), poly(vinyl alcohol), poly(ethyl oxazoline), poly(acryl amide), and poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) with a matrix polymer selected from the group consisting of ethylene vinyl acetate copolymers, polyolefins, polyvinylchloride, polystyrene polymers and copolymers of polystyrenes, polycarbonate, polyacrylates, polyamide polymers and copolymers of polyamides, and polyester polymers and copolymers of polyesters into a blend,
• wherein the glass transition temperature of at least one of said water-soluble polymer or matrix polymer is greater than the application temperature, which is the highest temperature at which the film will be exposed during distribution, storage, or usage, and while in contact with a protein-containing solution, and wherein protein adsorption of the polymer blend is reduced in an amount within the range of from about 16% to about 92% as compared to a protein adsorption of a corresponding second product of 100% by weight of the same matrix polymer;
• b. melting said blend;
• and
• c. exposing said blend to shear conditions such that said water-soluble polymer will move onto the surface of the matrix polymer substrate through shear.

A protein-compatible product made from a polymer blend, said polymer blend comprising:

• a. a water-soluble polymer selected from the group consisting of poly(ethylene oxide), poly(vinyl alcohol), poly(ethyl oxazoline), poly(acryl amide), and poly(vinyl pyrrolidone);
• and
• b. a matrix polymer selected from the group consisting of ethylene vinyl acetate copolymers, polyolefins, polyvinylchloride, polystyrene polymers and copolymers of polystyrenes, polycarbonate, polyacrylates, polyamide polymers and copolymers of polyamides, and polyester polymers and copolymers of polyesters;
• wherein the glass transition temperature of at least one of said water-soluble polymer or matrix polymer is greater than the application temperature, which is the highest temperature at which the film will be exposed during distribution, storage, or usage, and while in contact with a protein-containing solution;
• and
• wherein protein adsorption of the polymer blend is reduced in an amount within the range of from about 16% to about 92% as compared to a protein adsorption of a second product of 100% by weight of the same matrix polymer.

A protein-compatible product made from a polymer blend, said polymer blend comprising:

• a. a water-soluble polymer from about 0.2% to about 5.0% by weight, wherein the water-soluble polymer is selected from the group consisting of poly(ethylene oxide), poly(vinyl alcohol), poly(ethyl oxazoline), poly(acryl amide), and poly(vinyl pyrrolidone);
• and
• b. a matrix polymer from about 95.0% to about 99.8% by weight, wherein the matrix polymer selected from the group consisting of ethylene vinyl acetate copolymers, polyolefins, polyvinylchloride, polystyrene polymers and copolymers of polystyrenes, polycarbonate, polyacrylates, polyamide polymers and copolymers of polyamides, and polyester polymers and copolymers of polyesters;
• wherein protein adsorption of the product is reduced in an amount within the range of from about 16% to about 92% as compared to protein adsorption of a second product comprising 100% by weight of the same matrix polymer.

A protein-compatible product made from a polymer blend, said polymer blend comprising:

• a. a water-soluble polymer from about 0.2% to about 5.0% by weight, wherein the water-soluble polymer is selected from the group consisting of poly(ethylene oxide), poly(vinyl alcohol), poly(ethyl oxazoline), poly(acryl amide), and poly(vinyl pyrrolidone);
• and
• b. a matrix polymer from about 95.0% to about 99.8% by weight, wherein the matrix polymer selected from the group consisting of ethylene vinyl acetate copolymers, polyolefins, polyvinylchloride, polystyrene polymers and copolymers of polystyrenes, polycarbonate, polyacrylates, polyamide polymers and copolymers of polyamides, and polyester polymers and copolymers of polyesters;
• wherein the contact angle of the product is reduced in an amount within the range of from about 11% to about 51% as compared to the contact angle of a second product comprising 100% by weight of the same matrix polymer.

A protein-compatible film product made from a polymer blend, said product being made by the extrusion shearing of said polymer blend, said polymer blend comprising:

• a. a water-soluble polymer selected from the group consisting of poly(ethylene oxide), poly(vinyl alcohol), poly(ethyl oxazoline), poly(acryl amide), and poly(vinyl pyrrolidone);
• and,
• b. a matrix polymer selected from the group consisting of ethylene vinyl acetate copolymers, polyolefins, polyvinylchloride, polystyrene polymers and copolymers of polystyrenes, polycarbonate, polyacrylates, polyamide polymers and copolymers of polyamides, and polyester polymers and copolymers of polyesters;
• wherein the glass transition temperature of at least one of said water-soluble polymer or matrix polymer is greater than the application temperature, which is the highest temperature at which the product will be exposed during distribution, storage, or usage, and while in contact with a protein-containing solution;
• and
• wherein protein adsorption of the film product is reduced in an amount of at least about 16% as compared to a protein adsorption of a corresponding second product comprising 100% by weight of the same matrix polymer.

A protein-compatible polymer film, said film being made by the shearing of a polymer blend, said polymer blend comprising:

• a. a water-soluble polymer selected from the group consisting of poly(ethylene oxide), poly(ethyl oxazoline), poly(vinyl alcohol), poly(acryl amide), and poly(vinyl pyrrolidone);
• and
• b. a matrix polymer selected from the group consisting of ethylene vinyl acetate copolymers, polyolefins, polyvinylchloride, polystyrene polymers and copolymers of polystyrenes, polycarbonate, polyacrylates, polyamide polymers and copolymers of polyamides, and polyester polymers and copolymers of polyesters;
• wherein the glass transition temperature of at least one of said water-soluble polymer or said matrix polymer is greater than the application temperature, which is the highest temperature at which the film will be exposed during distribution, storage, or usage, and while in contact with a protein-containing solution;
• and
• wherein protein adsorption of the polymer blend is reduced in an amount of at least about 16% as compared to a protein adsorption of a second product comprising 100% by weight of the same matrix polymer.

A method of manufacturing a protein compatible film from a polymer blend, comprising the steps of:

• a. thoroughly blending a water-soluble polymer selected from the group consisting of poly(ethylene oxide), poly(vinyl alcohol), poly(ethyl oxazoline), poly(acryl amide), and poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) with a matrix polymer selected from the group consisting of ethylene vinyl acetate copolymers, polyolefins, polyvinylchloride, polystyrene polymers and copolymers of polystyrenes, polycarbonate, polyacrylates, polyamide polymers and copolymers of polyamides, and polyester polymers and copolymers of polyesters into a blend,
• wherein the glass transition temperature of at least one of said water-soluble polymer or matrix polymer is greater than the application temperature, which is the highest temperature at which the film will be exposed during distribution, storage, or usage, and while in contact with a protein-containing solution, and wherein protein adsorption of the polymer blend is reduced in an amount of at least about 16% compared to a protein adsorption of a corresponding second product of 100% by weight of the same matrix polymer;
• b. melting said blend;
• and
• c. exposing said blend to shear conditions such that said water-soluble polymer will move onto the surface of the matrix polymer substrate through shear.

A protein-compatible product made from a polymer blend, said polymer blend comprising:

• a. a water-soluble polymer selected from the group consisting of poly(ethylene oxide), poly(vinyl alcohol), poly(ethyl oxazoline), poly(acryl amide), and poly(vinyl pyrrolidone);
• and
• b. a matrix polymer selected from the group consisting of ethylene vinyl acetate copolymers, polyolefins, polyvinylchloride, polystyrene polymers and copolymers of polystyrenes, polycarbonate, polyacrylates, polyamide polymers and copolymers of polyamides, and polyester polymers and copolymers of polyesters;
• wherein the glass transition temperature of at least one of said water-soluble polymer or matrix polymer is greater than the application temperature, which is the highest temperature at which the film will be exposed during distribution, storage, or usage, and while in contact with a protein-containing solution;
• and
• wherein protein adsorption of the polymer blend is reduced in an amount of at least about 16% compared to a protein adsorption of a second product of 100% by weight of the same matrix polymer.

A protein-compatible product made from a polymer blend, said polymer blend comprising:

• a. a water-soluble polymer from about 0.2% to about 5.0% by weight, wherein the water-soluble polymer is selected from the group consisting of poly(ethylene oxide), poly(vinyl alcohol), poly(ethyl oxazoline), poly(acryl amide), and poly(vinyl pyrrolidone);
• and
• b. a matrix polymer from about 95.0% to about 99.8% by weight wherein the matrix polymer selected from the group consisting of ethylene vinyl acetate copolymers, polyolefins, polyvinylchloride, polystyrene polymers and copolymers of polystyrenes, polycarbonate, polyacrylates polyamide polymers and copolymers of polyamides and polyester polymers and copolymers of polyesters;
• wherein protein adsorption of the product is reduced in an amount of at least about 16% compared to a protein adsorption of a second product comprising 100% by weight of the same matrix polymer.

A protein-compatible product made from a polymer blend, said polymer blend comprising:

• a. a water-soluble polymer from about 0.2% to about 5.0% by weight, wherein the water-soluble polymer is selected from the group consisting of poly(ethylene oxide), poly(vinyl alcohol), poly(ethyl oxazoline), poly(acryl amide) and poly(vinyl pyrrolidone);
• and
• b. a matrix polymer from about 95.0% to about 99.8% by weight wherein the matrix polymer selected from the group consisting of ethylene vinyl acetate copolymers, polyolefins, polyvinylchloride, polystyrene polymers and copolymers of polystyrenes, polycarbonate, polyacrylates, polyamide polymers and copolymers of polyamides, and polyester polymers and copolymers of polyesters;
• wherein the contact angle of the product is reduced in an amount of at least about 11% compared to the contact angle of a second product comprising 100% by weight of the same matrix polymer.