Provided herein are methods of making degradable, additive-blended polymeric materials using microwave radiation and catalysts. The methods can include incorporation of therapeutic materials into the polymeric materials. There also are provided polymeric materials made by the methods and medical devices comprising the polymeric materials made by the methods.

The invention provides compositions featuring chitosan and methods for using such compositions for the local delivery of biologically active agents to an open fracture, complex wound or other site of infection. Advantageously, the degradation and drug elution profiles of the chitosan compositions can be tailored to the needs of particular patients at the point of care (e.g., in a surgical suite, clinic, physician's office, or other clinical setting).

A method is described herein for the treatment of intracranial aneurysms. The method comprises inserting into an aneurysm an embolism coil coated with a polymeric coating comprising a genipin, such as genipin or a derivative thereof, thereby increasing the stability of clots within the aneurysm. According to one example, the coating is a poly(L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) is used to release genipin to crosslink fibrin clots thereby creating more stable occlusions. Increased clotting can improve segregation of the weakened portion of the blood vessel from the rest of the vasculature and reduce the risk of recurrence.

The invention relates to self-assembled organosilane- and small molecule drug-containing coatings for resorbable medical implant devices. The coatings can be prepared from precursor compositions containing an organosilane and a small molecule drug, and can be applied to substrates. Prior to applying the coatings, the surfaces of the substrates can be pretreated. The coatings can be functionalized with a binding compound that is coupled with an active component. The coatings can be applied using various techniques and apparatus, more particularly, by a deep-coating process conducted at ambient conditions.

The invention provides compositions featuring chitosan and methods for using such compositions for the local delivery of biologically active agents to an open fracture, complex wound or other site of infection. Advantageously, the degradation and drug elution profiles of the chitosan compositions can be tailored to the needs of particular patients at the point of care (e.g., in a surgical suite, clinic, physician's office, or other clinical setting).

Medical devices such as stents, stent grafts, and balloon catheters include a coating layer applied over a modified exterior surface of the medical device. The modified exterior surface comprises an exterior surface of the medical device subjected to a surface modification that decreases a surface free energy of the exterior surface before application of the coating layer an exterior surface. The coating layer comprises a hydrophobic therapeutic agent and at least one additive. The modified exterior surface may affect the release kinetics of the drug from the device, the crystallinity of the drug layer, the surface morphology of the coating and particle shape, or the particle size of drug of a therapeutic layer in the coating layer. For example, the effects caused by the modified exterior surface may increase the retention time and amount of therapeutic agent in tissue.

A catheter drainage accessory adapted to be connected to a urinary catheter including a connector configured to be operably connected to a drainage member of a urinary catheter and a drainage conduit. At least one of the connector and conduit are made of a water flushable material.

In another example, a bioresorbable implant for use in a nasal region includes one or more bioresorbable polymers, and a pharmaceutical composition coupled to the one or more bioresorbable polymers. A release rate of the pharmaceutical composition is related to a degradation rate of the one or more bioresorbable polymers.

Embodiments relate to a crosslinked citrate-based elastomer catheter that is biodegradable and kink resistant. Embodiments of the crosslinked citrate-based elastomer material swells when surrounded by fluid (body fluid) so as to anchor the catheter to tissue but not anchor it so much that movement or removal will cause tissue damage. The catheter can be used as a component to a peripheral nerve block device, for example. Embodiments of the catheter can include embedding biodegradable sensors, moieties, shape memory material, etc. to monitor and modulate functions of the catheter and/or peripheral nerve block.

A hydrogel-based biological delivery vehicle used to effectively deliver drug and biological material to tissue or organ sites. More specifically, a hydrogel binding matrix having a biopolymer backbone containing carboxyl groups. Tyramine may be substituted for at least a portion of the carboxyl groups, so that, when hydrogen peroxide is added, it causes creation of covalent bonds between tyramine molecules and cross-links the hydrogel binding matrix, thereby enabling the hydrogel binding matrix to transition from liquid to gel state. The hydrogel binding matrix, in its liquid form, is capable of encapsulating drug reservoirs to create a homogenous liquid with evenly distributed particles containing drugs or target molecules. As the hydrogel binding matrix solidifies into a gel state, the newly created cross-links do not disrupt or react with the drugs or target molecules contained within the drug reservoirs. This hydrogel-based biological delivery vehicle can be used in several medical applications.