Radiographic contrasting agents and radio-opaque polymeric materials for medical devices

Abstract

The present invention discloses a radiographic contrasting agent containing multiple aromatic groups, each of which is substituted with at least three halogen atoms. The radiographic contrasting agent can initiate a polymerization process. The present invention also discloses a radio-opaque polymeric material that comprises a biodegradable polymer having at least one radiographic contrasting moiety covalently attached thereto. The radio-opaque polymeric material provides enhanced contrasting intensity in radiographic imaging. The radio-opaque polymeric material can be applied on at least a portion of one surface of a medical device. The radio-opaque polymeric material can also be used to construct a medical device, a component thereof, or a portion of a component thereof.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to a radiographic contrasting agent that can initiate a polymerization process and a radio-opaque polymeric material comprising a biodegradable polymer having at least one radiographic contrasting moiety covalently attached thereto. BACKGROUND OF INVENTION [0002] Biodegradable polymers have been widely used to construct medical devices, particularly implantable medical devices. Compared to the conventional metallic material, biodegradable polymers offer many advantages. First, biodegradable polymers are conformable and flexible, thereby causing less stress to the biological tissues. Second, medical implants made from biodegradable polymers do not require a second surgical intervention for removal. Third, the biodegradable polymers may be used to enhance the therapeutic effect of a medical implant. For example, a fractured bone that has been fixated with a rigid metal implant has a tendency for refracture upon removal of the met...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

For example, a fractured bone that has been fixated with a rigid metal implant has a tendency for refracture upon removal of the metal implant because the stress is borne by the rigid metal, so the bone has not been able to carry sufficient load during the healing process.

However, most biodegradable polymers are not radio-opaque.

Consequently, medical devices made from those biodegradable polymers cannot be visualized by means of radiographic imaging.

However, these inorganic agents do not mix well with polymeric materials and may cause phase separation in the radio-opaque polymeric matrix.

The incompatibility between the polymeric and inorganic phases compromises the physicomechanical properties of the polymer matrix.

Another disadvantage of using inorganic radiographic contrasting agents is the toxicity to tissues caused by the leach-out of these inorganic agents.

However, preparations of these prior art radio-opaque polymers require synthesis of radiographic contrasting monomer units, which may increase the technical complexity and production cost.

Images