The invention relates to central venous polyurethane catheters with a thin hydrophilic coating loaded with an antibiotic of the ramoplanin group or any mixture thereof and their use in preventing catheter related infections. These catheters are useful to prevent bacterial adherence and colonization and, therefore, to lower the risk of vascular infections in catheterized patients. The method of preparing the catheter of the invention consists in incubating polyurethane catheters coated with a hydrophilic film in an aqueous solution of the selected antibiotic.

A user activated iontophoretic device of the present invention includes an electrode assembly, an electrode reservoir and at least one drug reservoir. The device is divided or otherwise separated into at least two portions, with one portion containing the electrode reservoir and the other containing the drug reservoir, which may include a medication in a dry form. The electrode reservoir and the drug reservoir are sealingly separated by a barrier, which can be removed to bring the reservoirs into fluid conducting contact with one another. A method of activating the device includes causing the two portions to come into fluid conducting contact with one another to at least partially hydrate one of the reservoirs. This can be accomplished by removing the barrier dividing the two portions. In this way, the device is suitable for use to deliver a drug which has limited stability in an aqueous solution.

The user activated iontophoretic device of the present invention includes a disposable patch and a reusable controller. The patch contains an electrode assembly, an electrode reservoir and at least one drug reservoir. The patch is divided or otherwise separated into at least two portions, with one portion containing the electrode reservoir and the other containing the drug reservoir, which may include a medication in a dry form. The electrode reservoir and the drug reservoir are sealingly separated by a barrier, which can be manipulated to bring the reservoirs into fluid conducting contact with one another. A method of activating the device includes causing the two portions to rotate about a central axis relative to one another to manipulate the barrier and bring the reservoirs into fluid conducting contact with one another to at least partially hydrate one of the reservoirs. In this way, the device is suitable for use to deliver a drug which has limited stability in an aqueous solution.

A method for delivering a nucleotide into an organism includes applying a composition which includes a nucleotide component to epidermis of the organism. The epidermis is electroporated, whereby at least a portion of the composition enters or passes across the epidermis, thereby delivering the nucleotide into the organism. An example of a suitable nucleotide which can be delivered by the method of the invention includes antisense oligodeoxynucleotides for treatment of melanomas.

A reliable, self-contained iontophoretic drug delivery system is disclosed which enjoys a long stable shelf life and which is easy for the user to activate and employ. This system includes a wearable iontophoretic device that is prepackaged as a complete self-contained unit which includes the active species or drug to be administered and counter ions. The system includes a provision for isolating moisture sources from the electrodes and from the power source during storage and provides a simple, user-friendly mechanism to connect the drug to be administered and counter ion reservoirs to the electrodes and the device to the skin of a user in order to activate the device circuit. All elements of the device are contained in a single outer package.