title: Acrylic copolymers as candidates for drug-eluting coating of vascular stents.
abstract: The aim of the present work is the synthesis and characterization of polymer materials showing good adhesion, drug loading, and delivery properties, for potential cardiovascular application. In particular, poly(methylmethacrylate-co-acrylic acid) copolymers are prepared in different compositions by a radical polymerization and investigated as potential materials to coat metallic stents and to carry out a local drug release. Films obtained by dissolving the copolymer in an appropriate organic solvent (also loaded with an anti-restenosis drug, such as tacrolimus) are investigated: physicochemical properties, adhesiveness to metallic stent material, and kinetics of drug release in physiological environment are studied.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Industrial Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Pisa, Italy. dav.silvestri@ing.unipi.it
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Silvestri
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cristallini
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gagliardi
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Barbani
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: D'Acunto
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ciardelli
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Giusti
mesh_terms: D000179:Acrylates / Q000737:chemistry*; D000268:Adhesiveness; D000818:Animals; D002627:Chemistry, Physical / Q000379:methods; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D015195:Drug Design; D054855:Drug-Eluting Stents; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D008422:Materials Testing; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D011109:Polymethacrylic Acids / Q000737:chemistry*; D015607:Stents; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000179:Acrylates; D011108:Polymers; D011109:Polymethacrylic Acids; C038300:methylmethacrylate-methacrylic acid copolymer; C036658:acrylic acid; D016559:Tacrolimus