Zwitterionic copolymer coatings and related methods

Abstract

Zwitterionic carboxybetaine copolymers and their use in coatings to impart non-fouling and functionality to surfaces, particularly surfaces of blood-contacting medical devices.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
         1 . A method for inhibiting or preventing leaching of a plasticizer from a surface of a substrate, comprising:
 (a) coating at least a portion of a surface of a substrate with a composition comprising a copolymer to provide a coated surface, the copolymer comprising first repeating units and second repeating units, wherein each of the first repeating units comprises a pendant zwitterionic group, and wherein each of the second repeating units comprises a pendant photoreactive group effective for crosslinking the copolymer on a surface, to provide a coated surface; and   (b) irradiating the coated surface with ultraviolet light effective to crosslink the copolymer on the surface, thereby providing a coated surface effective for inhibiting or preventing leaching of a plasticizer from the surface.   
     
     
         2 . A copolymer for coating a surface, the copolymer comprising first repeating units and second repeating units, wherein each of the first repeating units comprises a pendant zwitterionic group, and wherein each of the second repeating units comprises a pendant photoreactive group effective for crosslinking the copolymer. 
     
     
         3 . A copolymer for coating a surface, the copolymer comprising first repeating units, optional second repeating units, and optional third repeating units, provided that the copolymer includes at least first repeating units and optional second repeating units or at least first repeating units and optional third repeating units, wherein each of the first repeating units comprises a pendant zwitterionic group, wherein each of the second repeating units comprises a pendant photoreactive group effective for crosslinking the copolymer, and wherein each of the third repeating units comprises a pendant hydrophobic group effective for adsorbing the copolymer to a surface.