The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 23, 2008
Filed:
Sep. 18, 2002
Jeffrey A. Hubbell, Zurich, CH;
Jane P. Bearinger, Livermore, CA (US);
Alessandro Napoli, Zurich, CH;
Marcus Textor, Schaffhausen, CH;
Nicola Tirelli, Uster, CH;
Jeffrey A. Hubbell, Zurich, CH;
Jane P. Bearinger, Livermore, CA (US);
Alessandro Napoli, Zurich, CH;
Marcus Textor, Schaffhausen, CH;
Nicola Tirelli, Uster, CH;
Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, CH;
Abstract
The present invention provides methods and apparatus for coating surfaces with specially designed thioethers and amphiphilic thioethers that reduce protein adsorption and/or cell adhesion. This reduction may be achieved, for example, by controlling the spacing or length of pendant chains or hydrophilic blocks in an amphiphilic thioether. Techniques for determining spacing include adsorbing the thioether from a solution or a colloidal suspension, or controlling the degree of polymerization of the thioether. Techniques for controlling the length of the pendant chains include controlling the degree of polymerization of the pendant chains. Multiblock copolymers of poly(propylene sulfide) and poly(ethylene glycol) ('PPS-PEG') represent an exemplary family of amphiphilic thioethers. Methods for coating surfaces with amphiphilic thioethers are also provided.