Conjugated drug-polymer coated stent

1. A system for treating a vascular condition, comprising:

a catheter;

a stent coupled to the catheter; and

a polymeric coating on the stent comprising a polymer mixed with at least one conjugated drug, wherein each conjugated drug includes a control agent and a bioactive agent, wherein the control agent controls an elution rate of the bioactive agent,

wherein the conjugated drug comprises a pseudodimer of the bioactive agent, wherein the pseudodimer has a molecular weight of at least twice that of the bioactive agent, the pseudodimer comprising a first bioactive agent and a second bioactive agent connected by a pseudodimeric interlinking group and wherein the first bioactive agent is a first molecule of podophyllotoxin, the second bioactive agent is a second molecule of podophyllotoxin, and the pseudodimeric interlinking group comprises an oxalate bridge,

wherein the control agent is chosen from a group consisting of an acid chloride, an acid anhydride of fatty acid and a long chain fatty acid having between 3 and 20 carbon atoms.

2. A system for treating a vascular condition, comprising:

a catheter;

a stent coupled to the catheter; and

a polymeric coating on the stent comprising a polymer mixed with at least one conjugated drug, wherein each conjugated drug includes a control agent and a bioactive agent, wherein the control agent controls an elution rate of the bioactive agent,

wherein the conjugated drug comprises a pseudodimer of the bioactive agent, the pseudodimer has a molecular weight of at least twice that of the bioactive agent, the pseudodimer comprising a first bioactive agent and a second bioactive agent connected by a pseudodimeric interlinking group, wherein the first bioactive agent is a first molecule of podophyllotoxin, the second bioactive agent is a second molecule of podophyllotoxin, and the pseudodimeric interlinking group comprises a carbonate bridge

wherein the control agent is chosen from a group consisting of an acid chloride, an acid anhydride of fatty acid and a long chain fatty acid having between 3 and 20 carbon atoms.

3. A system for treating a vascular condition, comprising:

a catheter;

a stent coupled to the catheter; and

a polymeric coating on the stent comprising a polymer mixed with at least one conjugated drug, wherein each conjugated drug includes a control agent and a bioactive agent, wherein the control agent controls an elution rate of the bioactive agent,

wherein the bioactive agent comprises a podophyllotoxin, the podophyllotoxin containing a non-pharmacologically critical hydroxyl group,

wherein the conjugated drug has a molecular weight greater than that of the podophyllotoxin,

wherein the control agent is attached to the non-pharmacologically critical hydroxyl group and wherein the control agent comprises an acid chloride.

4. A system for treating a vascular condition, comprising:

a catheter;

a stent coupled to the catheter; and

a polymeric coating on the stent comprising a polymer mixed with at least one conjugated drug, wherein each conjugated drug includes a control agent and a bioactive agent, wherein the control agent controls an elution rate of the bioactive agent,

wherein the bioactive agent comprises a lipophilic drug, the lipophilic drug containing a non-pharmacologically critical hydroxyl group,

wherein the conjugated drug has a molecular weight greater than that of the lipophilic drug,

wherein the control agent is attached to the non-pharmacologically critical hydroxyl group, and

wherein the lipophilic drug is podophyllotoxin and the control agent comprises an acid anhydride of a fatty acid with between three and twenty carbon atoms.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the acid anhydride is a stearic acid anhydride.

6. A system for treating a vascular condition, comprising:

a catheter;

a stent coupled to the catheter; and

a polymeric coating on the stent comprising a polymer mixed with at least one conjugated drug, wherein each conjugated drug includes a control agent and a bioactive agent, wherein the control agent controls an elution rate of the bioactive agent,

wherein the bioactive agent comprises a lipophilic drug, the lipophilic drug containing a non-pharmacologically critical lactone,

wherein the conjugated drug has a molecular weight greater than that of the lipophilic drug, and

wherein the lipophilic drug is podophyllotoxin and the control agent comprises a long-chain fatty acid with between three and twenty carbon atoms.

7. A method of manufacturing a drug-polymer coated stent, comprising:

providing a stent framework;

forming a conjugated drug, wherein the conjugated drug comprises a bioactive agent and a control agent;

mixing the conjugated drug with a polymer; and

coating the stent framework with the conjugated drug and polymer mixture, wherein forming the conjugated drug comprises:

mixing the bioactive agent and at least one monomer in a solution;

adding a catalyst to the solution; and

forming a covalently-linked conjugated drug, wherein an absorbable polyester chain is linked to the bioactive agent, and the bioactive agent serves as a chain initiator,

wherein the bioactive agent is podophyllotoxin, the at least one monomer is a mixture of e-caprolactone and glycolide, and the catalyst is stannous octoate,

wherein the control agent is chosen from a group consisting of an acid chloride, an acid anhydride of fatty acid and a long chain fatty acid having between 3 and 20 carbon atoms.

8. A method of manufacturing a drug-polymer coated stent, comprising:

providing a stent framework;

forming a conjugated drug, wherein the conjugated drug comprises a bioactive agent and a control agent;

mixing the conjugated drug with a polymer; and

coating the stent framework with the conjugated drug and polymer mixture, wherein forming the conjugated drug comprises:

mixing the bioactive agent and at least one monomer in a solution;

adding a catalyst to the solution; and

forming a covalently-linked conjugated drug, wherein an absorbable polyester chain is linked to the bioactive agent, and the bioactive agent serves as a chain initiator,

wherein the bioactive agent is podophyllotoxin, the at least one monomer is a mixture of e-caprolactone and glycolide, and the catalyst is a zinc dialkyl, wherein the control agent is chosen from a group consisting of an acid chloride, an acid anhydride of fatty acid and a long chain fatty acid having between 3 and 20 carbon atoms.

9. A method of manufacturing a drug-polymer coated stent, comprising:

providing a stent framework;

forming a conjugated drug, wherein the conjugated drug comprises a bioactive agent and a control agent;

mixing the conjugated drug with a polymer; and

coating the stent framework with the conjugated drug and polymer mixture, wherein forming the conjugated drug comprises:

providing at least two molecules of a hydroxylic bioactive agent;

mixing at least two molecules of the hydroxylic bioactive agent and at least one molecule of a pseudodimeric interlinking group in a solution;

adding a pseudodimerization catalyst to the solution;

heating the solution to a pseudodimeric reaction temperature; and

forming a pseudodimeric conjugated drug wherein a first molecule of the bioactive agent is connected to a second molecule of the bioactive agent by a molecule of the pseudodimeric interlinking group,

wherein the control agent is chosen from a group consisting of an acid chloride, an acid anhydride of fatty acid and a long chain fatty acid having between 3 and 20 carbon atoms;

and wherein the hydroxylic bioactive agent is podophyllotoxin.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the pseudodimeric interlinking group comprises diethyl oxalate.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the pseudodimeric interlinking group comprises di-isopropyl carbonate.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the pseudodimerization catalyst comprises an organometallic transesterification catalyst.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein the solution comprises a non-reactive solvent.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein the pseudodimerization reaction temperature is between 25 degrees centigrade and 140 degrees centigrade.

15. A method of manufacturing a drug-polymer coated stent, comprising:

providing a stent framework;

forming a conjugated drug, wherein the conjugated drug comprises a bioactive agent and a control agent;

mixing the conjugated drug with a polymer; and

coating the stent framework with the conjugated drug and polymer mixture, wherein forming the conjugated drug comprises:

providing at least three molecules of a hydroxylic bioactive agent;

mixing at least three molecules of the hydroxylic bioactive agent and at least two molecules of a pseudo-oligomeric interlinking group in a solution;

adding a pseudo-oligomerization catalyst to the solution;

heating the solution to a pseudo-oligomeric reaction temperature; and

forming a pseudo-oligomeric conjugated drug wherein a first molecule of the bioactive agent is connected to a second molecule of the bioactive agent by a first molecule of the pseudo-oligomeric interlinking group, and the second molecule of the bioactive agent is connected to a third molecule of the bioactive agent by a second molecule of the pseudo-oligomeric interlinking group,

wherein the control agent is chosen from a group consisting of an acid chloride, an acid anhydride of fatty acid and a long chain fatty acid having between 3 and 20 carbon atoms;

and wherein the hydroxylic bioactive agent is podophyllotoxin.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the pseudo-oligomerization reaction temperature is between 25 degrees centigrade and 140 degrees centigrade.

17. A method of manufacturing a drug-polymer coated stent, comprising:

providing a stent framework;

forming a conjugated drug, wherein the conjugated drug comprises a bioactive agent and a control agent;

mixing the conjugated drug with a polymer; and

coating the stent framework with the conjugated drug and polymer mixture, wherein forming the conjugated drug comprises:

providing a bioactive agent with a non-pharmacologically critical hydroxyl group;

mixing the bioactive agent with an acid chloride in a solution;

heating the solution to a lipophilic reaction temperature; and

forming a lipophilic conjugated drug,

wherein the control agent is chosen from a group consisting of an acid chloride, an acid anhydride of fatty acid and a long chain fatty acid having between 3 and 20 carbon atoms;

and wherein the bioactive agent is podophyllotoxin.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the lipophilic reaction temperature is between 25 degrees centigrade and 140 degrees centigrade.

19. A method of manufacturing a drug-polymer coated stent, comprising:

providing a stent framework;

forming a conjugated drug, wherein the conjugated drug comprises a bioactive agent and a control agent;

mixing the conjugated drug with a polymer; and

coating the stent framework with the conjugated drug and polymer mixture, wherein forming the conjugated drug comprises:

providing a bioactive agent with a non-pharmacologically critical hydroxyl group;

mixing the bioactive agent with an acid anhydride of a fatty acid comprising between three and twenty carbon atoms in a solution;

heating the solution to a lipophilic reaction temperature; and

forming a lipophilic conjugated drug,

wherein the control agent is chosen from a group consisting of an acid chloride, an acid anhydride of fatty acid and a long chain fatty acid having between 3 and 20 carbon atoms;

and wherein the bioactive agent is podophyllotoxin.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the lipophilic reaction temperature is between 25 degrees centigrade and 140 degrees centigrade.

21. A method of manufacturing a drug-polymer coated stent, comprising:

providing a stent framework;

forming a conjugated drug, wherein the conjugated drug comprises a bioactive agent and a control agent;

mixing the conjugated drug with a polymer; and

coating the stent framework with the conjugated drug and polymer mixture, wherein forming the conjugated drug comprises:

providing a bioactive agent with a non-pharmacologically critical lactone;

mixing the bioactive agent with a long-chain fatty alcohol comprising between three and twenty carbon atoms in a solution;

adding a lipophilic catalyst to the solution;

heating the solution to a lipophilic reaction temperature; and

forming a lipophilic conjugated drug,

wherein the control agent is chosen from a group consisting of an acid chloride, an acid anhydride of fatty acid and a long chain fatty acid having between 3 and 20 carbon atoms;

and wherein the bioactive agent is podophyllotoxin.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the lipophilic catalyst is an organometallic transesterification catalyst.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein the lipophilic reaction temperature is between 25 degrees centigrade and 140 degrees centigrade.