Plastified polyvinyl chloride for antimicrobial medical device applications

Biocompatible synthetic polymers play an important role in medical applications, such as prosthetic devices (drains, catheters, hip, knees, etc.) employed at the present time by millions of patients. Polymers used as prosthetic devices include polyurethanes, silicone rubbers, teflon and vinyl polymers or copolymers. The possibility of utilization of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) material in prosthetic medical devices depends on biocompatibility, chemical and thermal stability, and suitable mechanical properties. Since PVC is largely used in medical tubing for transport of biological fluids, low amounts of water adsorption and wettability are very important for the production of catheters, implants, etc., in order to avoid biofllm formation on the surface. We present the development of medical grade plasticized recipes based on PVC with applicability in devices type catheters with antimicrobial properties and the comparison of surface analysis, mechanical and biocompatibility properties of PVC samples with antimicrobial activity, those flexibility is provided by different plasticizers.