COATING SYSTEMS FOR THE CONTROLLED DELIVERY OF HYDROPHILIC BIOACTIVE AGENTS

摘要

Described are coating systems for the controlled delivery of hydrophilic bioactive agents, for example, from implantable medical devices. The coating systems of the invention comprise (a) a polymeric basecoat layer containing one or more hydrophilic bioactive agents; and (b) an elution-controlling topcoat layer that comprises a poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate) copolymer. The elution rate of the hydrophilic bioactive agent can be controlled by varying the vinyl acetate concentration in the elution-controlling topcoat layer.