Methods of applying a hydrophilic coating to a substrate, and substrates having a hydrophilic coating

1. A method of applying a hydrophilic coating to a substrate surface, comprising:

providing a substrate having a surface comprising at least in part a water-swellable material;

contacting the substrate surface with a solution to swell the water swellable material, said solution comprising at least one of (i) a water-soluble polymer capable of being cross-linked to form a cross-linked, lubricious, hydrophilic coating and (ii) a water-soluble monomer capable of being polymerized to form a cross-linked, lubricious, hydrophilic coating; and,

forming the cross-linked, lubricious, hydrophilic coating, said coating being entangled with and securely anchored to the substrate surface.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the solution comprises at least one solvent selected from the group consisting of water, alcohols, and mixtures thereof.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the substrate comprises a first layer, and a second layer, wherein the first layer comprises the water-swellable material.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the second layer comprises a non-water-swellable material.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the substrate comprises a medical device.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the medical device is selected from the group consisting of medical implants, intravascular implants, catheters, and contact lenses.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the water-swellable material comprises a block copolymer.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the block copolymer is selected from the group consisting of water-swellable polyamide-based copolymers, water-swellable polyester-based copolymers, water-swellable urethane-based copolymers, and mixtures thereof.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the water-soluble polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyacrylic acids, acrylic acid copolymers, poly-N-vinyl lactams, polyvinylalcohols, polyvinylalcohol copolymers, and mixtures thereof.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the poly-N-vinyl lactam comprises polyvinylpyrollidone.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the water-soluble monomer is selected from the group consisting of vinyl alcohols, vinylpyrollidones, acrylamides, methacrylates, acrylic acids, and mixtures thereof.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the solution further comprises a cross-linking agent.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the cross-linking agent is selected from the group consisting of UV activatable cross-linking agents, carbodiimides, aziridines, melamine formaldehydes, and multifunctional carboxylic acid cross-linking agents.

14. The method of claim 1 , further comprising contacting the substrate with a solution comprising a cross-linking agent.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the hydrophilic coating is secured to the surface without covalent interactions between the hydrophilic coating and the surface.