Acrylic copolymers as candidates for drug-eluting coating of vascular stents.
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.
Silvestri
D
D
Department of Chemical Engineering, Industrial Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Pisa, Italy. dav.silvestri@ing.unipi.it
Cristallini
C
C
Gagliardi
M
M
Barbani
N
N
D'Acunto
M
M
Ciardelli
G
G
Giusti
P
P
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
D000179:Acrylates; D011108:Polymers; D011109:Polymethacrylic Acids; C038300:methylmethacrylate-methacrylic acid copolymer; C036658:acrylic acid; D016559:Tacrolimus