Abstract An infection-resistant polymeric material, such as polytetrafluoroethylene, for use on or within a human or animal body, for example, in the form of a vascular graft, can be prepared by an improved method which comprises the following sequence of steps: (a) soaking a polymeric material with a solution of an antimicrobial agent, such as sodium sulfadiazine, oxacillin dissolved in an organic solvent therefor, such as an ethanol/chloroform mixture, (b) soaking the polymeric material with an organic solvent, such as ethanol, for a metal salt; and (c) resoaking the polymeric material with the solution of the antimicrobial agent dissolved in the organic solvent therefor. The polymeric material is dried after each soaking step. Preferably, in the intermediate soaking step (b) the organic solvent contains a metal salt, such as silver nitrate, dissolved therein, so as to form in situ the metal salt of the antimicrobial agent, such as silver sulfadiazine.
A method of preparing an infection-resistant polymeric material for use on or within a human or animal body which comprises the following sequence of steps: (a) soaking a polymeric material with a solution of an antimicrobial agent dissolved in an organic solvent therefor, (b) soaking the polymeric material with an organic solvent for a metal salt, (c) resoaking the polymeric material with the solution of the antimicrobial agent dissolved in the organic solvent therefor, and (d) drying the polymeric material after each soaking step.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
84 words
A method of preparing an infection-resistant polymeric material for use on or within a human or animal body which comprises the following sequence of steps: (a) soaking a polymeric material with a solution of an antimicrobial agent dissolved in an organic solvent therefor, (b) soaking the polymeric material with an organic solvent for a metal salt, (c) resoaking the polymeric material with the solution of the antimicrobial agent dissolved in the organic solvent therefor, and (d) drying the polymeric material after each soaking step.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein in step (b) said organic solvent contains a metal salt dissolved therein.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the metal of the metal salt is selected from silver, zinc and cerium.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
11 words
A method according to claim 3 wherein said metal is silver.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
22 words
A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said antimicrobial agent is norfloxacin, oxacillin, nafcillin, sulfadiazine, pefloxacin, or tobramycin.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
23 words
A method according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said polymeric material is polytetrafluoroethylene, a polyester, a silicone elastomer, or silk.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
46 words
A method according to any one of Claims 1 to 5 wherein the polymeric material is a polyester and the polymeric material is resoaked with the solution of the antimicrobial agent dissolved in the organic solvent therefor which contains a small amount of polylactic 10 acid.
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