| abstract |
The present invention includes a co-polymer film which can be applied over a surface of an article to form a continuous surface that is more biocompatible and has a smoother surface morphology than an untreated article. In general the co-polymer film of the invention can be formed by providing a hydrophobic polymer block, such as polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) with functional -OH end groups and reacting the -OH ends with a conventional monomer or prepolymer of a film-forming polymer capable of reacting with -OH groups. Such reactions are exemplified, using as reactive PDMS a triblock copolymer of the polylactone-polysiloxane-polylactone (PL-PDMS-PL) type, or silicone polyesters. The -OH groups of the polylactone blocks can react with any of a variety of isocyanates in a suitable solvent to form a polymer having PDMS incorporated with its structure. The film can be applied to the surface of an article by any convenient means of coating the article with the reaction mixture in solvent, and allowing the solvent to evaporate. |