Abstract: There is provided a new use of microspheres comprising a water-insoluble, water-swellable polymer which is anionically charged at pH7, and electrostatically associated with the polymer, in releasable form, a cationically charged chemotherapeutic agent, in the manufacture of a composition for use in the treatment of a brain tumour, wherein in the treatment the composition is introduced into the brain and the chemotherapeutic agent is released from the microspheres, wherein the microspheres, when equilibrated in water at 37° C., comprise at least 40 wt % water based on weight of polymer plus water. Compositions comprising the microspheres and methods for the treatment of brain tumours are also provided.

Abstract: A composition for chemoembolotherapy of solid tumours comprises particles of a water-insoluble water-swellable synthetic anionic polymer and, absorbed therein an anthracycline. Suitably the polymer is a poly(vinyl alcohol) based polymer and the drug is doxorubicin.

Abstract: A composition for chemoembolotherapy of solid tumours comprises particles of a water-insoluble water-swellable synthetic anionic polymer and, absorbed therein an anthracycline. Suitably the polymer is a poly(vinyl alcohol) based polymer and the drug is doxorubicin.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a balloon expandable stent mounted on a balloon catheter, the entire assembly being overcoated with a coherent polymer coating, which is preferably substantially continuous over the circumference and, more preferably, axial length of the stent on the balloon. The polymer coating improves retention of the stent on the balloon during delivery and does not adversely effect the deployment characteristics, nor the balloon failure characteristics. The product is made by mounting the stent on the balloon and coating the assembly with a liquid coating composition containing a suitable polymer followed by curing of the coating. The polymer is biocompatible and preferably crosslinkable in the coating composition, and crosslinked in the final product. A suitable polymer is formed from monomers including a zwitterionic, preferably a phosphoryl choline, group, and monomers including a trialkoxysilyl group.

Abstract: A biocompatibilizing process in which a substrate having a surface which bears substrate pendant functional groups is biocompatibilized by coating it with a coating composition containing a polymer formed from a radical polymerizable monomers including a radical polymerisable zwitterionic monomer and a radical polymerizable monomer containing a reactive group to form a polymer having zwitterionic groups and pendant reactive groups and the said pendant reactive groups are reacted to form covalent bonds with said substrate pendant functional group and thereby form a stable coating of polymer on the said surface.

Abstract: An implant having a coating comprising a polymer matrix is swollen in a pharmaceutical solution whereby pharmaceutically active compound is imbibed into the polymer matrix. When the product is implanted, release of the pharmaceutically active compound from the coating takes place. The polymer is preferably formed from ethylenically unsaturated monomers including a zwitterionic monomer, most preferably 2-methacryloyloxyethyl-2?-trimethylammoniumethylphosphate inner salt. The monomers from which the polymer is formed may further include surface binding monomers, such as hydrophobic group containing monomers, and crosslinkable monomers, the content of which may be used to control the swellability. Preferably the implant is a stent and the coating of polymer on the exterior wall surface is thicker than the coating of polymer on the interior surface. Release of the drug may be controlled by selection of comonomers. The implant is suitably a stent for use in the cardiovascular system.

Abstract: An implant having a coating comprising a polymer matrix is swollen in a pharmaceutical solution whereby pharmaceutically active compound is imbibed into the polymer matrix. When the product is implanted, release of the pharmaceutically active compound from the coating takes place. The polymer is preferably formed from ethylenically unsaturated monomers including a zwitterionic monomer, most preferably 2-methacryloyloxyethyl-2′-trimethylammoniumethylphosphate inner salt. The monomers from which the polymer is formed may further include surface binding monomers, such as hydrophobic group containing monomers, and crosslinkable monomers, the content of which may be used to control the swellability. Preferably the implant is a stent and the coating of polymer on the exterior wall surface is thicker than the coating of polymer on the interior surface. Release of the drug may be controlled by selection of comonomers. The implant is suitably a stent for use in the cardiovascular system.

Abstract: A biocompatibilising process in which a substrate having a surface which bears substrate pendant functional groups is biocompatibilised by coating it with a coating composition containing a polymer formed from a radical polymerisable monomers including a radical polymerisable zwitterionic monomer and a radical polymerisable monomer containing a reactive group to form a polymer having zwitterionic groups and pendant reactive groups and the said pendant reactive groups are reacted to form covalent bonds with said substrate pendant functional group and thereby form a stable coating of polymer on the said surface.

Abstract: A composition for chemoembolotherapy of solid tumours comprises particles of a water-insoluble water-swellable synthetic anionic polymer and, absorbed therein an anthracycline. Suitably the polymer is a poly(vinyl alcohol) based polymer and the drug is doxorubicin.

Abstract: A biocompatibilising process in which a substrate having a surface which bears substrate pendant functional groups is biocompatibilised by coating it with a coating composition containing a polymer formed from a radical polymerisable monomers including a radical polymerisable zwitterionic monomer and a radical polymerisable monomer containing a reactive group to form a polymer having zwitterionic groups and pendant reactive groups and the said pendant reactive groups are reacted to form covalent bonds with said substrate pendant functional group and thereby form a stable coating of polymer on the said surface.

Abstract: A biocompatibilising process in which a substrate having a surface which bears substrate pendant functional groups is biocompatibilised by coating it with a coating composition containing a polymer formed from a radical polymerisable monomers including a radical polymerisable zwitterionic monomer and a radical polymerisable monomer containing a reactive group to form a polymer having zwitterionic groups and pendant reactive groups and the said pendant reactive groups are reacted to form covalent bonds with said substrate pendant functional group and thereby form a stable coating of polymer on the said surface.

Abstract: A polyion complex (PIC) is formed of an anionic soluble polymer formed from ethylenically unsaturated monomers including at least one anionic or monomer and a cationic soluble polymer formed from ethylenically unsaturated monomer including at least one cationic monomer, in which the monomers used to form at lest one of the polymers comprise a switterionic monomer and in which the monomers used to form at least one of the polymers include non-ionic monomer, preferably C1-24 alkyl(meth)acrylate, in which the overall ratio of anionic groups to cationic groups in the PIC is in the range 1.5:1 to 1:1.5, and in which the polymers are combined in ratios to provide a PIC in which there are units derived from zwitterionic monomer in an amount in the range 1 to 70 mole % based on total monomer derived units in the PIC and there are units derived from non-ionic monomer in an amount in the range 0 to 60 mole % based on total monomer derived units in the PIC.

Abstract: An insoluble polymer is deposited in a body cavity for instance to embolize a vein or pack an aneurysm, the polymer having pendant zwitterionic groups to improve biocompatibility. The insoluble polymer is preferably formed by an in situ gelling step in which a charged, preferably soluble, polymer having pendant zwitterionic groups is introduced in the form of a composition in which it is soluble and is gelled by being mixed with a counterionically charged soluble polymer (polyelectrolyte), to form a polyion complex. Preferably the or each soluble polymer is formed by polymerizing ethylenically unsatured monomers including a zwitterionic monomer, for instance 2-methacryloyloxyethyl-2′-trimethylammoniumethyl phosphate inner salt, an ionic monomer such as trimethylammonium alkyl(alk)acrylate or a sulphoalkyl(alk)acrylate and optionally a diluent monomer such as an alkyl(alk)acrylate.

Abstract: A polyion complex (PIC) is formed of an anionic soluble polymer formed from ethylenically unsaturated monomers including at least one anionic or monomer and a cationic soluble polymer formed from ethylenically unsaturated monomer including at least one cationic monomer, in which the monomers used to form at least one of the polymers comprise a zwitterionic monomer and in which the monomers used to form at least one of the polymers include non-ionic monomer, preferably C1-24 alkyl(meth)acrylate, in which the overall ratio of anionic groups to cationic groups in the PIC is in the range 1.5:1 to 1:1.5, and in which the polymers are combined in ratios to provide a PIC in which there are units derived from zwitterionic monomer in an amount in the range 1 to 70 mole % based on total monomer derived units in the PIC and there are units derived from non-ionic monomer in an amount in the range 0 to 60 mole % based on total monomer derived units in the PIC. The PIC is preferably swollen in water and is a flowable gel.

Abstract: Cross-linked copolymers which are obtained by polymerising a neutral diluent monomer or monomers, a monomer or monomers bearing a center of permanent positive charge, and a bifunctional and/or trifunctional cross-linking agent, are suitable for use in contact lenses. Process for producing them by copolymerisation, contact lens material comprising them, contact lenses made of them and processes for producing contact lenses from them.

Abstract: Cross-linked copolymers which are obtainable by polymerising a neutral diluent monomer or monomers, a monomer or monomers bearing a center of permanent positive charge, and a bifunctional and/or trifunctional cross-linking agent, are suitable for use in contact lenses. Process for producing them by copolymerization, contact lens material comprising them, contact lenses made of them and processes for producing contact lenses from them.

Abstract: Cross-linked copolymers which are obtainable by polymerizing a neutral diluent monomer or monomers, a monomer or monomers bearing a center of permanent positive charge, and a bifunctional and/or trifunctional cross-linking agent, are suitable for use in contact lenses. Process for producing them by copolymerization, contact lens material comprising them, contact lenses made of them and processes for producing contact lenses from them.

Abstract: The biocompatibility of various polymers are improved by blending with them a polymer including a zwitterionic group. The zwitterionic group is usually an ammonium phosphate ester zwitterionic group and the polymer containing it may be produced by the free radical polymerisation of ethylenically unsaturated monomers including a monomer bearing the zwitterionic group. Blending of the two polymers may be achieved by dry blending particulate polymers or by mixing the polymers in liquid dispersion or solution followed by removal of the liquid medium. The fibrinogen absorption and/or platelet activation of polymers may be reduced to a value of less than 80% or even less than 60% of the base polymer by introducing amounts of more than 10% or more than 30% of the zwitterionic group containing polymer. Preferred blends are of copolymers of 2-(methacryloyloxyethyl)-2′-(trimethylammonium)ethyl phosphate inner salt with higher alkyl(meth)acrylate, blended with olefin polymers and/or with rubber latices.

Abstract: A biocompatibilizing process in which the surface of a material in need of being biocompatibilized is coated with a copolymer formed by radical polymerization of ethylenically unsaturated monomers comprising a zwitterionic monomer having a sulphobetaine group and a comonomer having a group selected for providing a stable coating of polymer on the said surface. The comonomer may have a hydrophobic group for binding to oppositely charged ionic groups at the surface or a reactive group for forming a covalent bond with functional groups at the surface and/or for forming cross-links in the polymer coating.

Abstract: A braided stent (1) for transluminal implantation in body lumens is self-expanding and has a radial expanded configuration in which the angle ? between filaments is acute. Some or all of filaments (6,7) are welded together in pairs at each end (4,5) of the stent to provide beads (8), thereby strengthening the stent and assisting its deployment from a delivery device. The stent is preferably completely coated using a biocompatible polymeric coating, said polymer preferably having pendant phosphoryl choline groups. A method of making the stent by braiding and welding is described as well as a delivery device for deploying the device. The present invention provides a biocompatible crosslinked coating and a crosslinkable coating polymer composition for forming such a coating.