Endotracheal tubes and other polymer substrates including an anti-fouling treatment
View Patent ↗Anti-fouling treatments are applied to polymer substrates for preventing bacterial adhesion. The polymer substrate may comprise a medical device, such as a catheter. The treatment generally comprises a polymer layer graft polymerized to the surface of the polymer substrate. An anti-biofilm agent is contained in the polymer layer or applied to the surface. A polymer over-layer is then applied that encapsulates the anti-biofilm agent. The anti-biofilm agent prevents bacterial adhesion through the polymer over-layer.
1. An article including an anti-fouling treatment comprising:
a polymer substrate having a first surface;
a hydrogel polymer graft polymerized to the first surface of the polymer substrate, the hydrogel polymer including a top surface positioned opposite the first surface of the polymer substrate;
an anti-biofilm agent associated with the hydrogel polymer, the anti-biofilm agent being present at the top surface; and
a polymer over-layer positioned on the hydrogel polymer and encapsulating the anti-biofilm agent.
2. An article as defined in claim 1 , wherein the anti-fouling treatment defines an exterior surface of the article and wherein the anti-biofilm agent is present within the anti-fouling treatment in an amount effective to inhibit adhesion of bacteria to the exterior surface of the article in relation to an untreated surface of the polymer substrate.
3. An article as defined in claim 1 , wherein the anti-biofilm agent is present in the anti-fouling treatment in an amount from about 0.001% by weight to about 2% by weight.
4. An article as defined in claim 1 , wherein the anti-biofilm agent is present in the anti-fouling treatment in an amount from about 0.001% by weight to about 0.2% by weight.
5. An article as defined in claim 1 , wherein the first surface of the polymer substrate has been treated with a plasma.
6. An article as defined in claim 1 , wherein the hydrogel polymer has been subjected to irradiation in an amount sufficient to cause grafting with the first surface of the polymer substrate.
7. An article as defined in claim 1 , wherein the anti-biofilm agent is located between the hydrogel polymer and the polymer over-layer and wherein the polymer over-layer defines the exterior surface of the anti-fouling treatment.
8. An article as defined in claim 1 , wherein the hydrogel polymer is anionic and the polymer over-layer is cationic.
9. An article as defined in claim 1 , wherein the polymer over-layer comprises chitosan.
10. An article as defined in claim 1 , wherein the polymer over-layer comprises chitosan glycolate.
11. An article as defined in claim 1 , wherein the anti-biofilm agent comprises a metal or a metal alloy.
12. An article as defined in claim 1 , wherein the anti-biofilm agent comprises a silver alloy.
13. An article as defined in claim 7 , wherein the anti-biofilm agent comprises silver sodium zirconium phosphate dispersed in polyvinylpyrrolidone.
14. An article as defined in claim 1 , wherein the hydrogel polymer is formed from a monomer comprising acrylamido methyl propane sulfonic acid or a salt thereof.
15. An article as defined in claim 1 , wherein the hydrogel polymer is formed from one or more monomers comprising N,N-dimethylaminoethyl acrylate dimethyl sulfate quaternary, dimethyl amino ethyl methacrylate, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, acrylamide, N-(3-aminopropyl) methacrylamide hydrochloride, hydroxyethyl methacrylate, styrene sulfonic acid, potassium sulfopropyl acrylate, di methylacrylamide, dimethyl amino ethyl methacrylate or their salts.
16. An article as defined in claim 1 , wherein the hydrogel polymer further comprises a crosslinking agent and an initiator.
17. An article as defined in claim 1 , wherein the polymer over-layer has a thickness of less than about 100 microns.
18. A respiratory device including a tubular structure defining a lumen, the tubular structure comprising the article defined in claim 1 , wherein the anti-fouling treatment comprises a lining for the lumen.
19. An article as defined in claim 1 , wherein the anti-biofilm agent is present in the anti-fouling treatment in an amount effective to inhibit adhesion of bacteria to the first surface of the article without substantially killing planktonic bacteria.
20. A catheter comprising:
a tubular structure comprised of a polymer, the tubular structure defining a lumen, the tubular structure including an anti-fouling lining for the lumen, the anti-fouling lining comprising a hydrogel polymer graft polymerized to an interior surface of the tubular structure, the hydrogel polymer including a top surface positioned opposite the interior surface of the polymer substrate;
an anti-biofilm agent associated with the hydrogel polymer, the anti-biofilm agent being present at the top surface; and
a polymer over-layer positioned on the hydrogel polymer and encapsulating the anti-biofilm agent; and
wherein the anti-fouling treatment defines an exterior surface of the catheter and wherein the anti-biofilm agent is present within the anti-fouling treatment and wherein the anti-biofilm agent is present in an amount effective to inhibit adhesion of bacteria to the exterior surface of the catheter.
21. A catheter as defined in claim 20 , wherein the catheter comprises a tracheal tube.
22. A catheter as defined in claim 20 , wherein the hydrogel polymer is formed from a monomer comprising acrylamido methyl propane sulfonic acid or a salt thereof, the anti-biofilm agent comprising a metal or a metal alloy, and wherein the polymer over-layer comprises chitosan glycolate, the polymer over-layer having a thickness of less than 50 microns.
23. A catheter as defined in claim 20 , wherein the tubular structure is comprised of a polyurethane, a polyvinylchloride, or a silicone.
24. A catheter as defined in claim 20 , wherein the interior surface of the tubular structure has been plasma treated prior to being graft polymerized with the hydrogel polymer.