Importance

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Abstract

A catheter having a therapeutic agent chemically bonded to a substrate on its exterior surface using a linker which photolytically releases the agent upon exposure to light energy at an appropriate wavelength. The linker is attached to the substrate via a complementary chemical group, with the opposing end containing an aromatic ring with a nitro group in the ortho position relative to a methyl or ethyl group which is functionalized to accept a complementary bond to the therapeutic agent. The substrate may include materials such as glass, polyamide, polyester, polyolefin, polypropylene, polyurethane, or latex. The therapeutic agent may include peptides, proteins, steroids, carbohydrates, nucleotides, or other aliphatic or heterocyclic products, and may be bonded to a molecular lattice or meshwork to accommodate a high molecular concentration per unit area and the inclusion of ancillary compounds such as markers or secondary emitters.

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First Claim