Zwitterionic Copolymer Coating for Antithrombogenic Medical Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Medical materials used in contact with blood often suffer from impaired blood flow and increased thrombus formation due to surface irregularities, leading to insufficient antithrombogenicity under severe conditions.
Innovation Solution
A medical material containing a copolymer with specific repeating units, specifically a combination of a sulfobetaine and alkoxy acrylate-based copolymer, is used to form a coating layer on medical devices, optimizing antithrombogenicity and preventing material elution from the device surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional antithrombogenic materials are used on smooth surfaces, then they exhibit good antithrombogenicity, but under severe conditions with surface irregularities such as steps or constricted portions, their antithrombogenicity becomes insufficient and thrombus formation occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the polymer material by incorporating specific ratios of zwitterionic groups (carboxybetaine or sulfobetaine) and hydrophilic groups (polyethylene glycol). This compositional parameter change enables the material to maintain excellent antithrombogenicity even under severe conditions with surface irregularities, resolving the contradiction between reliable antithrombogenic performance and susceptibility to thrombus formation in complex geometries
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite polymer structure combining multiple functional groups: zwitterionic groups (for antithrombogenicity), hydrophilic groups (for blood compatibility), and hydrophobic groups (for structural stability). This composite material approach allows the coating to maintain its antithrombogenic function under severe conditions where conventional single-material coatings fail
2Reliability
If hydrophilic polymer materials are used to improve blood compatibility, then protein adsorption is reduced, but the material may elute from the device surface under severe conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the compositional parameters by controlling the ratio of hydrophilic groups (polyethylene glycol) to zwitterionic groups, and balancing them with hydrophobic groups. This parameter optimization ensures the material has sufficient hydrophilicity for biocompatibility while maintaining adequate adhesion strength to prevent elution under severe conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates local quality differentiation within the polymer coating structure, with zwitterionic groups providing antithrombogenic properties at the blood-material interface, while hydrophobic groups anchor the coating to the device surface. This local functional differentiation resolves the contradiction between biocompatibility and material retention
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a medical material including a copolymer having a repeating unit (A) represented by the following formula (1): wherein R11 is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, Z is an oxygen atom or -NH-, R12 is a C1-6 alkylene group, R13 and R14 are each independently a C1-4 alkyl group, and R15 is a C1-6 alkylene group, and a repeating unit (B) represented by the following formula (2) : wherein R21 is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, R22 is a C1-6 alkylene group, and R23 is a C1-4 alkyl group. The repeating unit (A) is contained in a proportion of 0.6 to 7 mol% based on all the structural units of the copolymer. The invention makes it possible to provide a medical material and a medical device, which exhibit excellent antithrombogenicity even when used under severe conditions prone to thrombus formation.