Construction and Properties of Hydrogel-Graft-Coated Copper-Bearing Intrauterine Devices for Rabbits

Abstract

An active vapor grafting technique has been developed by The Franklin Institute Research Laboratories for covalent attachment of biocompatible water-swellable hydrogel coatings to plastic and elastomeric medical devices. This report describes its applicability in constructing durable and efficacious hydrogel-graft-coated copper-bearing polyethylene IUDs which are tolerated better in rabbits than uncoated IUDs. The in-utero copper release properties and scanning electron microscopy examinations of related copper corrosion phenomena are also described.