According to Hydromer, the hydrophobic nature of many of these materials can create challenges related to friction, wettability and coating adhesion in applications that require smooth device movement or prolonged contact with tissue and fluids.

The company outlines several surface-modification approaches, including plasma, corona and chemical activation methods, tailored primers and crosslinkable coating chemistries intended to improve adhesion and mechanical durability on low-surface-energy polymer substrates.

Hydromer also discusses the use of hydrated hydrophilic coatings to reduce friction on devices such as catheter shafts, guidewires and introducer sheaths. The company notes that coating selection and validation should account for the substrate, device geometry, intended use, mechanical stress and sterilization requirements.

Further reading: Hydromer’s technical article on hydrophilic coatings for polymer medical-device substrates.