| abstract |
Medical device, prosthesis, or packaging assembly made up of polymer body comprising at least one polymer having the formula R(LE)x wherein R is a polymeric core having a number average molecular weight of from 5000 to 7,000,000 daltons, and having x endgroups, x is an integer ≥ 1, E is an endgroup which is covalently linked to polymeric core R by linkage L, L is a divalent oligomeric chain which has at least 5 repeat units and which can self-assembly with L chains on adjacent molecules of the polymer, and moieties L and/or E in the polymer(s) may be the same as or different from one another in composition and/or molecular weight. The polymer body includes plural polymer molecules located internally within the body, at least some of which internal polymer molecules have endgroups that form a surface of the body. The surface endgroups include at least one self-assembling moiety. |