Abstract: A crosslinked, acrylate-based pressure-sensitive adhesive is provided to obtain a creep compliance value of the pressure-sensitive adhesive of between 1.1.times.10.sup.-5 cm.sup.2 /dyne and 2.3.times.10.sup.-5 cm.sup.2 /dyne in the presence of alcohol-based excipients, such as ethanol serving as a solvent or a penetration enhancing agent used with transdermal delivery devices. The method of preparing such crosslinked pressure-sensitive adhesive by using electron beam radiation of from 5 kGy to 200 kGy, and medical articles using the crosslinked pressure-sensitive adhesive as a layer therein to contact skin are also provided.

Abstract: Articles having a complex geometric configuration have hydrophilicity imparted to at least a portion of surfaces of the articles while substantially retaining the complex geometric configuration. The hydrophilicity is imparted by an extremely thin, self-interlocking shell of tactic, hydrophilic poly(vinyl alcohol) enveloping the surfaces. A tactic poly(vinyl alcohol) precursor applied to surfaces of the supporting structure is reacted in situ on the surfaces with a hydrolysis reagent to prepare the tactic, hydrophilic poly(vinyl alcohol) shell. The article having the hydrophilic shell is highly resistant to solvent washout. Hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity can be reversibly provided on regio-specific surfaces of the article. Articles in the form of membranes useful as drug delivery device components are also described.