Covalently-bound, hydrophilic coating compositions for surgical implants

#This invention relates to coatings for surgical implants. In particular, the present invention relates to hydrophilic, covalently cross-linked copolymers that are covalently bound to the surface of surgical implants.

#Both rigid and foldable implantable ophthalmic lens materials are known. The most common rigid material used in ophthalmic implants is polymethyl methacrylate (“PMMA”). Foldable intraocular lens (“IOL”) materials can generally be divided into three categories: silicone materials, hydrogel materials, and non-hydrogel (“hydrophobic”) acrylic materials. See, for example, Foldable Intraocular Lenses, Ed. Martin et al., Slack Incorporated, Thorofare, N.J. (1993). For purposes of the present application, hydrophobic acrylic materials are acrylic materials that absorb less than approximately 5% water at room temperature.

#Silicone and non-hydrogel acrylic materials used in ophthalmic implants can potentially damage endothelial cells and perhaps other cells or tissues as well during or after the implant's insertion in the eye. These materials are generally hydrophobic and/or tacky and can pull cells off of eye tissues that contact the implant. Particularly in the case of phakic IOL's implanted between the capsular bag and the iris, there is significant potential for physical contact between the implant and surrounding cells or tissue even after the implant reaches its target location.

#The formulations shown in Table 1 below were prepared and cured in polypropylene slab molds (10 mm×20 mm×0.9 mm). The formulations were cured by exposure to blue light for one hour using a Kulzer Palatray CU blue light unit (12-14 mW/cm2).

#Coating Solution Preparation

#The coating copolymer of Example 1 was dissolved in a 21:3:2 (pbw) 2-pentanone:ethanol:dichloromethane solvent to give an 8.4% solution. The coating copolymer of Example 2 was dissolved in 2-pentanone to give an 8.0% solution. The resulting solutions were filtered through a Gelman glass fiber Acrodisc (1 μm) to give particulate-free coating solutions.