Pyrrole Derivatives for Electrochemical Coating of Metallic Medical Devices

Electropolymerization of medical devices such as cardiovascular stents may posses advantages including a simple and reproducible process with the ability to control the thickness, adherence, and composition of the coating by the duration and intensity of the applied current, the monomer composition and concentration, the solvent, and the reaction conditions. The properties of the polymer can also be controlled by copolymerization of different monomers, grafting substituents to a functionalized polymer, and by entrapping biomolecules. This article describes the synthesis of a range of pyrrole-based monomers and their electrocoating onto stainless steel surfaces. N-substituted pyrrole monomers with C1-C18 alkyl chains and poly (ethylene glycol) chains were synthesized in good yields and purity. Electropolymerization of these monomers provided uniform coatings with different hydrophobicities. Studies now focus on the incorporation of drugs in the coated device for release from the surface.