Medical devices comprising polymeric drug delivery systems with drug solubility gradients

摘要

Disclosed are drug delivery systems comprising drugs admixed with polymers having drug solubility gradients and methods of making the polymers. Also disclosed are medical devices having coatings thereon comprising the drug solubility gradient-containing polymers and at least one drug.

主权项

1. A medical device comprising a controlled-release drug delivery system comprising: a drug admixed with a polymer, said polymer comprising monomers arranged in a directional gradient of different hydrophobic and/or hydrophilic monomers throughout the polymer; wherein the directional gradient forms a drug solubility gradient that is continuous throughout the polymer from a region of high relative hydrophobicity to a region of high relative hydrophilicity; and wherein the polymer is prepared by a method comprising: preparing a first monomeric charge solution comprising at least one monomer; preparing at least one additional monomeric charge solution comprising at least one monomer; contemporaneously initiating polymerization of the at least one monomer of the first monomeric charge solution while adding the additional monomeric charge solution.