Absorbable E-caprolactone polymers and medical devices

Abstract

Crystalline, low melting ε-Caprolactone polymers which undergo accelerated hydrolysis, and their use as lubricant coatings and/or as coatings containing bioactive agents, as carriers of viable cells, and as coatings for open-cell microporous template or constucts for tissue regeneration; the polymers bearing basic functionalities can be linked tonically or covalently to the ester chain which induces autocatalyzed hydrolysis.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A bioabsorbable, lubricant coating for medical devices such as surgical staples; facia fasteners and other surgical closure devices; trocars, syringes; endoscopes and endoscopic catheters, instruments and devices; surgical implants; vascular grafts; shunts; and stents; an open cell, microporous template for tissue regeneration; a matrix for peptides and proteins; a matrix for vaccines and growth factor; and a bioabsorbable carrier for viable cells, said coating comprising crystalline nitrogenous polyesters comprising predominantly ε-caprolactone polymer sequences linked ionically or covalently to amine-bearing structures which represent 1 to 20 percent of the total weight.  
     
     
         2 . A lubricant coating as in  claim 1 , further comprising a bioactive agent.  
     
     
         3 . A lubricant coating as in  claim 2 , wherein the bioactive agent is an anti-microbial.  
     
     
         4 . A bioabsorbable, lubricant coating for a surgical closure device as in  claim 1 , wherein the device is a suture, and the coating comprises a crystalline nitrogenous polyester comprising predominantly ε-caprolactone polymer sequences linked tonically or covalently to amine-bearing structures which represent 1 to 20 percent of the total weight, and wherein the polyester chain is terminated with a carboxyl group and wherein the polyester is tonically linked to arginine.  
     
     
         5 . A bone wax comprising crystalline nitrogenous polyesters polymers comprising predominantly ε-caprolactone polymer sequences linked tonically or covalently to amine-bearing structures which represent 1 to 20 percent of the total weight.  
     
     
         6 . A tissue sealant comprising crystalline nitrogenous polyesters polymers comprising predominantly ε-caprolactone polymer sequences linked ionically or covalently to amine-bearing structures which represent 1 to 20 percent of the total weight.  
     
     
         7 . A bioabsorbable carrier as in  claim 9 , further comprising a growth factor.  
     
     
         8 . A hemostatic agent comprising crystalline nitrogenous polyester polymers comprising predominantly ε-caprolactone polymer sequences linked ionically or covalently to amine-bearing structures which represent 1 to 20 percent of the total weight.  
     
     
         9 . A hemostatic agent as in  claim 8 , further comprising multivalent metal ions.  
     
     
         10 . A component for therapeutic or prophylactic system for managing orthopedic, vascular or dental infection, said component comprising nitrogenous polyester polymers comprising predominantly ε-caprolactone polymer sequences linked ionically or covalently to amine-bearing structures which represent 1 to 20 percent of the total weight.