Electropolymerized tricopolymer based on N-pyrrole derivatives as a primer coating for improving the performance of a drug-eluting stent

ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2009 Apr;1(4):758-67. doi: 10.1021/am800139s.

Abstract

The coating of medical implants by polymeric films aims at increasing their biocompatibility as well as providing a durable matrix for the controlled release of a drug. In many cases, the coating is divided into a primer layer, which bridges between the medical implant and the drug-eluting matrix. The primer coating must be very carefully designed in order to provide optimal interactions with the surface of the medical implant and the outer layer. Here we present a simple and versatile approach for designing the primer layer based on electropolymerization of a carefully chosen blend of three different pyrrole derivatives: N-methylpyrrole (N-me), N-(2-carboxyethyl)pyrrole (PPA), and the butyl ester of N-(2-carboxyethyl)pyrrole (BuOPy). The composition and physical properties of the primer layer were studied in detail by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and a nano scratch tester. The latter provides the in-depth analysis of the adhesion and viscoelasticity of the coating. AFM phase imaging reveals a uniform distribution of the three monomers forming rough morphology. This primer layer significantly improved the morphology, stability, and paclitaxel release profile of a paclitaxel-eluting matrix based on methyl and lauryl methacrylates.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Absorption
  • Blood Vessel Prosthesis*
  • Coated Materials, Biocompatible / chemistry*
  • Drug-Eluting Stents*
  • Electrochemistry / methods
  • Equipment Design
  • Equipment Failure Analysis
  • Hardness
  • Materials Testing
  • Paclitaxel / administration & dosage*
  • Paclitaxel / chemistry*
  • Polymers / chemistry*
  • Pyrroles / chemistry*
  • Surface Properties

Substances

  • Coated Materials, Biocompatible
  • Polymers
  • Pyrroles
  • Paclitaxel