Heparin Release from Hydrophobic Polymers : (I) In Vitro Studies

The release of heparin from monolithic devices composed of different ratios of polythylene oxide (PEO MW 20,000) and hydrophobic polydimethylsiloxane or polyurethane was investigated. Water soluble PEO blended into the polymers provided a controlled release of heparin. The release rate of heparin could be controlled by varying the content of PEO. The heparin release rate from the devices increased as the content of PEO in the devices increased. The release mechanism may be associated with the creation of pore of domain through the devices following the swelling and the change in the physical structure of the polymer network. Hydrophobic polydimethylsiloxanes and polyurethanes containing PEO can provide an antith rombogenic material for prologed release of heparin from blended system.