SYNTHESIS OF NEW PHOTOREAGENTS FOR PHOTOCHEMICAL IMMOBILIZATION

THE SELECTION OF A POLYMER FOR USE IN A BIOMEDICAL APPLICATION IS BASED UPON THE PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE POLYMER SUCH AS STRENGTH AND FLEXIBILITY AND UPON THE BIOCOMPATIBILITY OF THE MATERIAL WITH TISSUE. IT IS FREQUENTLY THE CASE THAT COMPROMISES MUST BE MADE BETWEEN THESE TWO POTENTIALLY CONFLICTING REQUIREMENTS. THE IDEAL SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM IS TO ENABLE THE SELECTION OF THE POLYMER BASED SOLELY ON THE PHYSICAL PROPERTIES AND THEN PROVIDE A TENACIOUS SURFACE COATING WHICH IMPARTS THE REQUIRED BIOCOMPATIBILITY PROPERTIES. THIS COATING REAGENT MUST BE CAPABLE OF COVALENT BONDING TO A VARIETY OF POLYMER SURFACES AND IMPARTING THE DESIRED SURFACE COAT PROPERTIES. THIS PHASE I PROJECT WILL FOCUS ON THE SYNTHESIS OF NEW PHOTOREACTIVE GROUPS HAVING IMPROVED PHOTOCOUPLING CAPABILITIES INCLUDING WAVELENGTH OF ACTIVATION AND REACTIVITY TOWARD LESS REACTIVE POLYMER SURFACES. THESE NEWREAGENTS WILL THEN BE INCORPORATED INTO COATING MOLECULES FOR AN ASSESSMENT OF THEIR ABILITY TO SURFACE MODIFIY THE POLYMER. TWO REPRESENTATIVE COATING SYSTEMS WILL BE INVESTIGATED, ONE INTENDED TO IMPART A LUBRICOUS SURFACE ANDTHE OTHER TO GENERATE A NONTHROMBOGENIC COATING. A VARIETY OF POLYMER SUBSTRATES WILL BE UTILIZED AND DURING PHASE II THESE REAGENTS WILL BE USED ON MEDICAL DEVICES PROVIDED BY CLIENT COMPANIES.