Anti-biofouling Polymers for Hydrogel Coatings on Implantable Sensors

Stanford researchers have developed a library of polymeric hydrogel formulations to prevent and/or reduce biofouling on implanted sensors and medical devices. In vivo studies of the acrylamide-based polymer coatings have demonstrated resistance to protein adsorption, cell adhesion, and platelet adhesion, all indications of biofouling. Aside from its longevity and anti-fouling properties, these formulations also allow uninhibited electrochemical performance of an underlying sensor. As such, these new polymer hydrogel coatings outperform current PEG and zwitterionic coatings in both performance, versatility, and longevity.

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