WO2021257445A1

WO2021257445A1 - Hydrophilic thermal plastic elastomer

Info

Publication number: WO2021257445A1
Application number: PCT/US2021/037208
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jianfeng Zhang; Guangyu Lu; Rachel Z. Pytel; Jian L. DING
Original assignee: Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics Corporation
Priority date: 2020-06-18
Filing date: 2021-06-14
Publication date: 2021-12-23

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a composite article that may have a major exterior surface. The composite article may include a blended composite mixture of a thermoplastic elastomer component and a hydrophilic polymer component. The hydrophilic polymer component may have a water-absorption capacity of at least 50 wt.%. The thermoplastic elastomer component and the hydrophilic polymer component may further be present in the blended composite mixture in a dry weight ratio within the range of 99.9:0.1 to 30:70.

Description

HYDROPHILIC THERMAL PLASTIC ELASTOMER

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a hydrophilic thermal plastic elastomer composition. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a hydrophilic thermal plastic elastomer composition, methods for preparing a hydrophilic thermal plastic elastomer composition and components formed using a hydrophilic thermal plastic elastomer composition.

Hydrophilic polymer compositions are often used in the production of composite articles for use in the medical field. However, such compositions are sometimes not desirable as the composite articles formed from the composition can not be used in certain application (e.g., as a catheter or wound dressing) without external lubrication. Accordingly, there remains a need for hydrophilic polymer compositions that can self-lubricate when in use. SUMMARY

According to a first aspect, a composite article may have a major exterior surface. The composite article may include a blended composite mixture of a thermoplastic elastomer component and a hydrophilic polymer component. The hydrophilic polymer component may have a water- absorption capacity of at least 50 wt.%. The thermoplastic elastomer component and the hydrophilic polymer component may further be present in the blended composite mixture in a dry weight ratio within the range of 99.9:0.1 to 30:70.

According to still another aspect, a method of forming a composite article may include mixing a thermoplastic elastomer component and a hydrophilic polymer component to form a blended precursor mixture, and then forming the blended precursor mixture into the composite article. The hydrophilic polymer component may have a water-absorption capacity of at least 50 wt.%. The thermoplastic elastomer component and the hydrophilic polymer component may be present in the blended precursor mixture in a dry weight ratio within the range of 99.9:0.1 to 30:70.

According to yet another aspect, a tubing component may have a major exterior surface. The tubing component may include a blended composite mixture of a thermoplastic elastomer component and a hydrophilic polymer component. The hydrophilic polymer component may have a water- absorption capacity of at least 50 wt.%. The thermoplastic elastomer component and the hydrophilic polymer component may further be present in the blended composite mixture in a dry weight ratio within the range of 99.9:0.1 to 30:70.

According to still another aspect, a method of forming a tubing component may include mixing a thermoplastic elastomer component and a hydrophilic polymer component to form a blended precursor mixture, and then forming the blended precursor mixture into the tubing component. The hydrophilic polymer component may have a water-absorption capacity of at least 50 wt.%. The thermoplastic elastomer component and the hydrophilic polymer component may be present in the blended precursor mixture in a dry weight ratio within the range of 99.9:0.1 to 30:70.

According to yet another aspect, a catheter may have a major exterior surface. The catheter may include a blended composite mixture of a thermoplastic elastomer component and a hydrophilic polymer component. The hydrophilic polymer component may have a water- absorption capacity of at least 50 wt.%. The thermoplastic elastomer component and the hydrophilic polymer component may further be present in the blended composite mixture in a dry weight ratio within the range of 99.9:0.1 to 30:70.

According to still another aspect, a method of forming a catheter may include mixing a thermoplastic elastomer component and a hydrophilic polymer component to form a blended precursor mixture, and then forming the blended precursor mixture into the catheter. The hydrophilic polymer component may have a water-absorption capacity of at least 50 wt.%. The thermoplastic elastomer component and the hydrophilic polymer component may be present in the blended precursor mixture in a dry weight ratio within the range of 99.9:0.1 to 30:70.

According to yet another aspect, a wound dressing may have a major exterior surface. The wound dressing may include a blended composite mixture of a thermoplastic elastomer component and a hydrophilic polymer component. The hydrophilic polymer component may have a water- absorption capacity of at least 50 wt.%. The thermoplastic elastomer component and the hydrophilic polymer component may further be present in the blended composite mixture in a dry weight ratio within the range of 99.9:0.1 to 30:70.

According to still another aspect, a method of forming a wound dressing may include mixing a thermoplastic elastomer component and a hydrophilic polymer component to form a blended precursor mixture, and then forming the blended precursor mixture into the wound dressing. The hydrophilic polymer component may have a water-absorption capacity of at least 50 wt.%. The thermoplastic elastomer component and the hydrophilic polymer component may be present in the blended precursor mixture in a dry weight ratio within the range of 99.9:0.1 to 30:70.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments are illustrated by way of example and are not limited to the accompanying figures. FIG. 1 includes a flow chart showing a method for forming a composite article according to embodiments described herein.

Skilled artisans appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

The following discussion will focus on specific implementations and embodiments of the teachings. The detailed description is provided to assist in describing certain embodiments and should not be interpreted as a limitation on the scope or applicability of the disclosure or teachings. It will be appreciated that other embodiments can be used based on the disclosure and teachings as provided herein.

The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” “including,” “has,” “having” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of features is not necessarily limited only to those features but may include other features not expressly listed or inherent to such method, article, or apparatus. Further, unless expressly stated to the contrary, “or” refers to an inclusive-or and not to an exclusive-or. For example, a condition A or B is satisfied by any one of the following: A is true (or present) and B is false (or not present), A is false (or not present) and B is true (or present), and both A and B are true (or present).

Also, the use of “a” or “an” is employed to describe elements and components described herein. This is done merely for convenience and to give a general sense of the scope of the invention. This description should be read to include one, at least one, or the singular as also including the plural, or vice versa, unless it is clear that it is meant otherwise. For example, when a single item is described herein, more than one item may be used in place of a single item. Similarly, where more than one item is described herein, a single item may be substituted for that more than one item.

Embodiments described herein are generally directed to a composite article having a major exterior surface where the composite article may include a blended composite mixture of a thermoplastic elastomer component and a hydrophilic polymer component and to methods of forming the composite article.

Referring first to a method of forming a composite article as described herein, FIG. 1 includes a diagram showing a forming method 100 according to embodiments described herein for forming a composite article. According to particular embodiments, the forming method 100 may include a first step 110 of mixing a thermoplastic elastomer component and a hydrophilic polymer component to form a blended precursor mixture, and then a second step 120 of forming the blended precursor mixture into the composite article.

As used herein, each individual component of a “blended precursor mixture” maybe be entirely incorporated into the mixture (i.e., indiscernible on a nanometer scale), or may comprise discrete nanometer- or micron-scale domains dispersed throughout the mixture. For example, in certain embodiments as otherwise described herein, the thermoplastic elastomer component and the hydrophilic polymer component each individually comprise domains having a major dimension of less than 1 mm (e.g., less than 200 pm, or less than 100 pm, or less than 50 pm).

As further used herein, each individual component of a “blended precursor mixture” may be entirely incorporated into the mixture (i.e., indiscernible on a nanometer scale), or may comprise discrete nanometer- or micron-scale domains dispersed throughout the mixture. For example, in certain embodiments as otherwise described herein, the thermoplastic elastomer component and the hydrophilic polymer component each individually comprise domains having a major dimension of less than 1 mm (e.g., less than 200 pm, or less than 100 pm, or less than 50 pm).

According to certain embodiments, the thermoplastic elastomer component and the polymer component are present in the blended precursor mixture in a dry weight ratio within the range of 95:5 to 40:60. According to still other embodiments, the thermoplastic elastomer component and the polymer component are present in the blended precursor mixture in a dry weight ratio within the range of 90:10 to 50:50. According to yet other embodiments, the thermoplastic elastomer component and the polymer component are present in the blended precursor mixture in a dry weight ratio within the range of 85:15 to 55:45.

According to particular embodiments, the thermoplastic elastomer component of the blended precursor mixture may include a particular material. For example, the thermoplastic elastomer component may include a copolymer, a block polymer, or any combination thereof. According to still other embodiments, the thermoplastic elastomer component in the blended precursor mixture may consist of a copolymer, a block polymer, or any combination thereof.

According to still other embodiments, the copolymer of the thermoplastic elastomer component in the blended precursor mixture may include a polyolefin block, a polyether block, a polyurethane block, a polyamide block, a polyester block, or any combination thereof. According to yet other embodiments, the copolymer of the thermoplastic elastomer component in the blended precursor mixture may consist of a polyolefin block, a polyether block, a polyurethane block, a polyamide block, a polyester block, or any combination thereof.

According to yet other embodiments, the block polymer of the thermoplastic elastomer component in the blended precursor mixture may include a polyolefin block, a polyether block, a polyurethane block, a polyamide block, a polyester block, or any combination thereof. According to yet other embodiments, the block polymer of the thermoplastic elastomer component in the blended precursor mixture may consist of a polyolefin block, a polyether block, a polyurethane block, a polyamide block, a polyester block, or any combination thereof.

According to still other embodiments, the thermoplastic elastomer component in the blended precursor mixture may include a polyether block amide. According to yet other embodiments, the thermoplastic elastomer component in the blended precursor mixture may consist of a polyether block amide.

According to yet other embodiments, the blended precursor mixture may include a particular content of the thermoplastic elastomer component. For example, the content of the thermoplastic elastomer component in the blended precursor mixture may be at least about 30 wt.% for a total dry weight of the blended precursor mixture, such as, at least about 35 wt.% or at least about 40 wt.% or at least about 45 wt.% or at least about 50 wt.% or at least about 55 wt.% or at least about 60 wt.% or at least about 65 wt.% or at least about 70 wt.% or at least about 75 wt.% or at least about 80 wt.% or at least about 85 wt.% or at least about 90 wt.% or at least about 95 wt.% or at least about 99.0 wt.% or even at least about 99.9 wt.%. According to still other embodiments, the content of the thermoplastic elastomer component in the blended precursor mixture may be not greater than about 100 wt.% for a total dry weight of the blended precursor mixture or not greater than about 99.9 wt.% or not greater than about 99.0 wt.% or not greater than about 97 wt.% or not greater than about 93 wt.% or not greater than about 90 wt.% or not greater than about 85 wt.% or not greater than about 80 wt.% or not greater than about 75 wt.% or not greater than about 70 wt.% or not greater than about 65 wt.% or not greater than about 60 wt.% or not greater than about 55 wt.% or not greater than about 50 wt.%. It will be appreciated that the content of the thermoplastic elastomer component in the blended precursor mixture may be within a range between any of the minimum and maximum values noted above. It will be further appreciated that the content of the thermoplastic elastomer component in the blended precursor mixture may be any value between any of the minimum and maximum values noted above. According to yet other embodiments, the hydrophilic polymer component in the blended precursor mixture may have a particular water-absorption capacity. As used herein, the “water-absorption capacity” of a hydrophilic polymer describes the amount of water that can be absorbed by a polymer (i.e., fully submerged in water) at equilibrium, at 23 °C, per amount of the hydrophilic polymer. According to certain embodiments, the hydrophilic polymer component in the blended precursor mixture may have a water-absorption capacity of at least about 50 wt.%, such as, at least about 55 wt.% or at least about 60 wt.% or at least about 65 wt.% or at least about 70 wt.% or at least about 75 wt.% or at least about 80 wt.% or at least about 85 wt.% or at least about 90 wt.% or at least about 95 wt.% or at least about 100 wt.%. It will be appreciated that the water-absorption capacity of the hydrophilic polymer component in the blended precursor mixture may be within a range between any of the values noted above. It will be further appreciated that the water- absorption capacity of the hydrophilic polymer component in the blended precursor mixture may be any value between any of the values noted above.

According to certain embodiments, the hydrophilic polymer component in the blended precursor mixture may include a particular material. For example, the hydrophilic polymer component in the blended precursor mixture may include a polyvinyl alcohol. According to certain other embodiments, the hydrophilic polymer component in the blended precursor mixture may include a polyvinyl pyrrolidone. According to other embodiments, the hydrophilic polymer component in the blended precursor mixture may consist of a particular material. For example, the hydrophilic polymer component in the blended precursor mixture may consist of a polyvinyl alcohol. According to certain other embodiments, the hydrophilic polymer component in the blended precursor mixture may consist of a polyvinyl pyrrolidone.

According to yet other embodiments, the hydrophilic polymer component in the blended precursor mixture may include one or more polysaccharides. According to still other embodiments, the hydrophilic polymer component in the blended precursor mixture may include one or more ionic polysaccharides. According to still other embodiments, the hydrophilic polymer component in the blended precursor mixture may include one or more ionically crosslinkable polysaccharides (e.g., a Ca²⁺-cross-linked polysaccharide with carboxylic acid functional groups). According to yet other embodiments, the hydrophilic polymer component in the blended precursor mixture may consist of one or more polysaccharides. According to still other embodiments, the hydrophilic polymer component in the blended precursor mixture may consist of one or more ionic polysaccharides.

According to still other embodiments, the hydrophilic polymer component in the blended precursor mixture may consist of one or more ionically crosslinkable polysaccharides (e.g., a Ca²⁺-cross-linked polysaccharide with carboxylic acid functional groups).

According to yet other embodiments, the one of more polysaccharides of the hydrophilic polymer component in the blended precursor mixture may be selected from starch, alginate, cellulose, hyaluronic acid, chitin, and any derivative thereof.

According to still other embodiments, the hydrophilic polymer component in the blended precursor mixture may include plurality of buffering functional groups.

According to yet other embodiments, the hydrophilic polymer component in the blended precursor mixture may include a saccharide selected from oligosaccharides and polysaccharides. According to certain embodiments, the hydrophilic polymer in the blended precursor mixture may include a particular content of oligosaccharides or polysaccharides. For example, the hydrophilic polymer component in the blended precursor mixture may include a content of oligosaccharides and polysaccharides of at least about 10 wt.% for a total weight of the hydrophilic polymer component, such as, at least about 20 wt.% or at least about 30 wt.% or at least about 40 wt.% or at least about 50 wt.%. According to still other embodiments, the hydrophilic polymer component in the blended precursor mixture may include a content of oligosaccharides or polysaccharides of not greater than about 95 wt.% for a total weight of the hydrophilic polymer component, such as not greater than about 90 wt.% or not greater than about 85 wt.% or not greater than about 80 wt.% or not greater than about 75 wt.% or not greater than about 70 wt.%. It will be appreciated that the content of oligosaccharides or polysaccharides in the hydrophilic polymer component in the blended precursor mixture may be within a range between any of the minimum and maximum values noted above. It will be further appreciated that the content of oligosaccharides or polysaccharides in the hydrophilic polymer component in the blended precursor mixture may be any value between any of the minimum and maximum values noted above.

As used herein, oligosaccharides may include linear or branched chains of about 3 to about 10 monosaccharides (e.g., glucose, arabinose, xylose, glucosamine, etc.). Further as used herein, polysaccharides may include linear or branched chains of at least about 11 monosaccharides. According to certain embodiments, oligosaccharides and polysaccharides may include synthetic and naturally occurring oligosaccharides and polysaccharides (e.g., fructooligosaccharide, cellulose, chitosan, etc.), and any derivative thereof such as, for example, cellulose derivatives including cellulose acetate propionate, cellulose acetate butyrate, cellulose nitrate, cellulose sulfate, methylcellulose, ethylcellulose, ethyl methyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl methyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, ethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, and croscarmellose sodium.

According to certain embodiments, the polysaccharide may include 1,4-a-linked repeat units according to Formula I:

a-linked repeat unit according to Formula I; R2 and R3 may be each independently selected from -OR’, -0C(0)R’, and -OR”; each R’ may be independently selected from hydrogen and optionally substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, aryl, and heteroaryl; and each R” may be independently selected from nitrate, sulfate, and phosphate.

According to other embodiments, R1 of one or more repeat units of the polysaccharide may be a repeat unit according to Formula I (i.e., forming a 1,6-a-linkage between repeat units). In certain embodiments, R1 of one or more repeat units is selected from -OR’, -0C(0)R’, and -OR”. In certain such embodiments, R1 of one or more repeat units may be independently -OR’ or -0C(0)R’, and each R’ may be independently selected from optionally substituted (e.g., optionally substituted with 1-3 groups selected from hydroxyl, oxo, ether, thiol, thioether, amine, ester, amide, cyano, isocyanate, thioisocyanate, carbamate, epoxy, and halogen) alkyl, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, aryl, and heteroaryl. In certain embodiments, R1 of one or more repeat units may be -OR’, and each R’ may be independently hydrogen or alkyl (e.g., optionally substituted with a hydroxyl group). In certain embodiments, R1 of one or more repeat units may be -0C(0)R’, and each R1 may be independently hydrogen or alkyl (e.g., optionally substituted with a hydroxyl group).

According to still other embodiments, R2 and R3 of one or more repeat units may be independently -OR’ or -0C(0)R’, and each R’ may be independently selected from optionally substituted (e.g., optionally substituted with 1-3 groups selected from hydroxyl, oxo, ether, thiol, thioether, amine, ester, amide, cyano, isocyanate, thioisocyanate, carbamate, epoxy, and halogen) alkyl, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, aryl, and heteroaryl. In certain embodiments, R2 and R3 of one or more repeat units are -OR’, and each R’ may be independently hydrogen or alkyl (e.g., optionally substituted with a hydroxyl group). In certain embodiments, R2 of one or more repeat units is -0C(0)R’ and each R’ may be independently hydrogen or alkyl (e.g., optionally substituted with a hydroxyl group). In certain such embodiments, R3 of the one or more repeat units may be -OH. In certain embodiments, R3 of one or more repeat units may be -0C(0)R’, and each R’ may be independently hydrogen or alkyl (e.g., optionally substituted with a hydroxyl group). In certain such embodiments, R2 of the one or more repeat units may be -OH.

According to yet other embodiments, one or more (e.g., each) of Rl, R2, and R3 of one or more repeat units may be -OR”. In certain such embodiments, R” may be nitrate. For example, in certain embodiments, each of Rl, R2, and R3 of one or more repeat units of the polysaccharide may be nitrate.

In still other embodiments as otherwise described herein, the saccharide may include a polysaccharide including l,4-P-linked repeat units according to Formulas II and III:

where each R6 may be independently selected from -OR’, -0C(0)R’, and -NHR’;

R7 and R8 may be each independently selected from -OR’, and -0C(0)R’, and -OR”; each R’ may be independently selected from hydrogen and optionally substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, aryl, and heteroaryl; and each R’ ’ may be independently selected from nitrate, sulfate, and phosphate.

According to still other embodiments, the polysaccharide may include homopolymeric blocks of l,4-P-linked repeat units according to Formula II and homopolymeric blocks of l,4-P-linked repeat units according to Formula III, the homopolymeric blocks also l,4-P-linked. In certain embodiments, the polysaccharide may include blocks of l,4-P-linked, alternating repeat units of Formula II and repeat units of Formula III.

According to yet other embodiments, R6 of one or more repeat units of the polysaccharide may be -NHR’, and each R’ may be independently selected from optionally substituted (e.g., optionally substituted with 1-3 groups selected from hydroxyl, oxo, ether, thiol, thioether, amine, ester, amide, cyano, isocyanate, thioisocyanate, carbamate, epoxy, and halogen) alkyl, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, aryl, and heteroaryl. For example, in certain such embodiments, R6 of one or more repeat units of the polysaccharide may be NHR’, and R’ may be cycloalkyl or heterocycloalkyl, each optionally substituted with 1-2 oxo groups.

According to still other embodiments, R7 and R8 of one or more repeat units may be independently -OR’ or -0C(0)R’, and each R’ may be independently selected from optionally substituted (e.g., optionally substituted with 1-3 groups selected from hydroxyl, oxo, ether, thiol, thioether, amine, ester, amide, cyano, isocyanate, thioisocyanate, carbamate, epoxy, and halogen) alkyl, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, aryl, and heteroaryl. In certain embodiments, R7 and R8 of one or more repeat units may be -OR’, and each R’ may be independently hydrogen or alkyl (e.g., optionally substituted with a hydroxyl group). In certain embodiments, R7 of one or more repeat units may be -OC(0)R’ and each R’ may be independently hydrogen or alkyl (e.g., optionally substituted with a hydroxyl group). In certain such embodiments, R8 of the one or more repeat units may be -OH. In certain embodiments, R8 of one or more repeat units may be -OC(0)R’, and each R’ may be independently hydrogen or alkyl (e.g., optionally substituted with a hydroxyl group). In certain such embodiments, R7 of the one or more repeat units may be -OH.

In certain embodiments, one or more (e.g., each) of R7 and R8 of one or more repeat units may be -OR”. In certain such embodiments, R” may be nitrate. For example, in certain embodiments, each of R7 and R8 of one or more repeat units of the polysaccharide may be nitrate.

In certain embodiments as otherwise described herein, the saccharide may include a polysaccharide that may include l,4-P-linked repeat units according to Formula IV:

where each R9 may be selected from hydroxyl, -OR’, -0C(0)R’, and -OR”; RIO and Rll may be each independently selected from -OR’, -0C(0)R’, and -OR”; each R’ may be independently selected from hydrogen and optionally substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, aryl, and heteroaryl; and each R’ ’ may be independently selected from nitrate, sulfate, and phosphate.

In certain embodiments, R9, RIO and R11 of one or more repeat units may be independently -OR’ or -0C(0)R’, and each R’ may be independently selected from optionally substituted (e.g., optionally substituted with 1-3 groups selected from hydroxyl, oxo, ether, thiol, thioether, amine, ester, amide, cyano, isocyanate, thioisocyanate, carbamate, epoxy, and halogen) alkyl, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, aryl, and heteroaryl. In certain embodiments, R9, RIO, and R11 of one or more repeat units may be -OR’, and each R’ may be independently hydrogen or alkyl (e.g., optionally substituted with a hydroxyl group). In certain embodiments, R9 of one or more repeat units may be -0C(0)R’ and each R’ may be independently hydrogen or alkyl (e.g., optionally substituted with a hydroxyl group). In certain embodiments, RIO of one or more repeat units may be -0C(0)R’ and each R’ may be independently hydrogen or alkyl (e.g., optionally substituted with a hydroxyl group). In certain such embodiments, R11 of the one or more repeat units may be -OH. In certain embodiments, R11 of one or more repeat units may be -0C(0)R’, and each R’ may be independently hydrogen or alkyl (e.g., optionally substituted with a hydroxyl group). In certain such embodiments, R9 and RIO of the one or more repeat units may be -OH.

In certain embodiments, one or more (e.g., each) of R9, RIO, and R11 of one or more repeat units may be -OR”. In certain such embodiments, R” may be nitrate. For example, in certain embodiments, each of R9, RIO, and R11 of one or more repeat units of the polysaccharide may be nitrate.

In certain embodiments as otherwise described herein, the saccharide may include a polysaccharide including l,4-P-linked repeat units repeat units according to Formula V:

where each R12 may be independently selected from -OR’, -0C(0)R’, and -NHR’; R13, R14, R15, and R16 may be each independently selected from -OR’, and -0C(0)R’, and -OR”; each R’ may be independently selected from hydrogen and optionally substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, aryl, and heteroaryl; and each R” may be independently selected from nitrate, sulfate, and phosphate.

In certain embodiments, R12 of one or more repeat units of the polysaccharide may be -NHR’, and each R’ may be independently selected from optionally substituted (e.g., optionally substituted with 1-3 groups selected from hydroxyl, oxo, ether, thiol, thioether, amine, ester, amide, cyano, isocyanate, thioisocyanate, carbamate, epoxy, and halogen) alkyl, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, aryl, and heteroaryl. For example, in certain such embodiments, R12 of one or more repeat units of the polysaccharide may be NHR’, and R’ may be cycloalkyl or heterocycloalkyl, each optionally substituted with 1-2 oxo groups.

In certain embodiments, R13, R14, R15, and R16 of one or more repeat units may be independently -OR’ or -0C(0)R’, and each R’ may be independently selected from optionally substituted (e.g., optionally substituted with 1-3 groups selected from hydroxyl, oxo, ether, thiol, thioether, amine, ester, amide, cyano, isocyanate, thioisocyanate, carbamate, epoxy, and halogen) alkyl, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, aryl, and heteroaryl. In certain embodiments, R13, R14, R15, and R16 of one or more repeat units may be -OR’, and each R’ may be independently hydrogen or alkyl (e.g., optionally substituted with a hydroxyl group).

In certain embodiments, one or more (e.g., each) of R13, R14, R15, and R16 of one or more repeat units may be -OR”. In certain such embodiments, R” may be nitrate. For example, in certain embodiments, each of R13, R14, R15, and R16 of one or more repeat units of the polysaccharide may be nitrate.

According to certain embodiments, the oligosaccharide or polysaccharide of the saccharide may have a particular molecular weight. For example, the oligosaccharide or polysaccharide of the saccharide may have a molecular weight of at least 2,500 Da.

According to certain other embodiments, the oligosaccharide or polysaccharide of the saccharide may have a molecular weight within the range of 16 kDa to 16 MDa. For example, in certain such embodiments, the oligosaccharide or polysaccharide of the saccharide may have a molecular weight within the range of 16 kDa to 12 MDa, or 16 kDa to 8 MDa, or 16 kDa to 4 MDa, or 16 kDa to 1 MDa, or 16 kDa to 800 kDa, or 16 kDa to 600 kDa, or 16 kDa to 400 MDa, or 16 kDa to 200 MDa, or 16 kDa to 100 kDa, or 25 kDa to 16 MDa, or 50 kDa to 16 MDa, or 100 kDa to 16 MDa, or 250 kDa to 16 MDa, or 500 kDa to 16 MDa, or 1 MDa to 16 MDa, or 4 MDa to 16 MDa, or 8 MDa to 16 MDa, or 12 MDa to 16 MDa, or 25 kDa to 250 kDa, or 100 kDa to 500 kDa, or 100 kDa to 1 MDa, or 500 kDa to 2 MDa, or 1 MDa to 4 MDa, or 2 MDa to 5 MDa, or 3 MDa to 8 MDa, or 4 MDa to 10 MDa, or 6 MDa to 12 MDa, or 8 MDa to 14 MDa.

According to yet other embodiments, the blended precursor mixture may include a particular content of the hydrophilic polymer component. For example, the content of the hydrophilic polymer component in the blended precursor mixture may be at least about 0.1 wt.% for a total dry weight of the blended precursor mixture, such as, at least about 1.0 wt.% or at least about 5 wt.% or at least about 10 wt.% or at least about 15 wt.% or at least about 20 wt.% or at least about 25 wt.% or at least about 30 wt.% or at least about 35 wt.% or at least about 40 wt.% or at least about 45 wt.% or at least about 50 wt.% or at least about 55 wt.% or at least about 60 wt.% or at least about 65 wt.%. According to still other embodiments, the content of the hydrophilic polymer component in the blended precursor mixture may be not greater than about 70 wt.% for a total dry weight of the blended precursor mixture, such as, not greater than about 65 wt.% or not greater than about 60 wt.% or not greater than about 55 wt.% or not greater than about 50 wt.% or not greater than about 45 wt.% or not greater than about 40 wt.% or not greater than about 35 wt.% or not greater than about 30 wt.% or not greater than about 25 wt.% or not greater than about 20 wt.% or not greater than about 15 wt.% or not greater than about 10 wt.% or not greater than about 5 wt.%. It will be appreciated that the content of the hydrophilic polymer component in the blended precursor mixture may be within a range between any of the minimum and maximum values noted above. It will be further appreciated that the content of the hydrophilic polymer component in the blended precursor mixture may be any value between any of the minimum and maximum values noted above.

Referring now specifically to the first step 110 of mixing the thermoplastic elastomer component and the hydrophilic polymer component, in certain embodiments as otherwise described herein, mixing the thermoplastic elastomer component and the hydrophilic polymer component may include compounding in a roll mill. In other embodiments, mixing the thermoplastic elastomer component and the hydrophilic polymer component may include compounding in a ross mixer. In yet other embodiments, mixing the thermoplastic elastomer component and the hydrophilic polymer component may include compounding in a brabender. In still other embodiments, mixing the thermoplastic elastomer component and the hydrophilic polymer component may include compounding in a twin screw extruder. A variety of other means for mixing that provide sufficient shear to intimately mix mixing the thermoplastic elastomer component and the hydrophilic polymer component may include are known in the art.

Referring now to the composite article formed according to embodiments described herein, and particularly to the composite article formed according to method 100 described herein, the composite article may include a blended composite mixture of the thermoplastic elastomer component and the hydrophilic polymer component.

As used herein, each individual component of a “blended composite mixture” maybe be entirely incorporated into the mixture (i.e., indiscernible on a nanometer scale), or may comprise discrete nanometer- or micron-scale domains dispersed throughout the mixture. For example, in certain embodiments as otherwise described herein, the thermoplastic elastomer component and the hydrophilic polymer component each individually comprise domains having a major dimension of less than 1 mm (e.g., less than 200 pm, or less than 100 pm, or less than 50 pm).

As further used herein, each individual component of a “blended composite mixture” may be entirely incorporated into the mixture (i.e., indiscernible on a nanometer scale), or may comprise discrete nanometer- or micron-scale domains dispersed throughout the mixture. For example, in certain embodiments as otherwise described herein, the thermoplastic elastomer component and the hydrophilic polymer component each individually comprise domains having a major dimension of less than 1 mm (e.g., less than 200 pm, or less than 100 pm, or less than 50 pm).

According to certain embodiments, the thermoplastic elastomer component and the polymer component are present in the blended composite mixture in a dry weight ratio within the range of 95:5 to 40:60. According to still other embodiments, the thermoplastic elastomer component and the polymer component are present in the blended composite mixture in a dry weight ratio within the range of 90:10 to 50:50. According to yet other embodiments, the thermoplastic elastomer component and the polymer component are present in the blended composite mixture in a dry weight ratio within the range of 85:15 to 55:45.

According to particular embodiments, the thermoplastic elastomer component of the blended composite mixture may include a particular material. For example, the thermoplastic elastomer component may include a copolymer, a block polymer, or any combination thereof. According to still other embodiments, the thermoplastic elastomer component in the blended composite mixture may consist of a copolymer, a block polymer, or any combination thereof.

According to still other embodiments, the copolymer of the thermoplastic elastomer component in the blended composite mixture may include a polyolefin block, a polyether block, a polyurethane block, a polyamide block, a polyester block, or any combination thereof. According to yet other embodiments, the copolymer of the thermoplastic elastomer component in the blended composite mixture may consist of a polyolefin block, a polyether block, a polyurethane block, a polyamide block, a polyester block, or any combination thereof.

According to yet other embodiments, the block polymer of the thermoplastic elastomer component in the blended composite mixture may include a polyolefin block, a polyether block, a polyurethane block, a polyamide block, a polyester block, or any combination thereof. According to yet other embodiments, the block polymer of the thermoplastic elastomer component in the blended composite mixture may consist of a polyolefin block, a polyether block, a polyurethane block, a polyamide block, a polyester block, or any combination thereof.

According to still other embodiments, the thermoplastic elastomer component in the blended composite mixture may include a polyether block amide. According to yet other embodiments, the thermoplastic elastomer component in the blended composite mixture may consist of a polyether block amide.

According to yet other embodiments, the blended composite mixture may include a particular content of the thermoplastic elastomer component. For example, the content of the thermoplastic elastomer component in the blended composite mixture may be at least about 30 wt.% for a total dry weight of the blended composite mixture, such as, at least about 35 wt.% or at least about 40 wt.% or at least about 45 wt.% or at least about 50 wt.% or at least about 55 wt.% or at least about 60 wt.% or at least about 65 wt.% or at least about 70 wt.% or at least about 75 wt.% or at least about 80 wt.% or at least about 85 wt.% or at least about 90 wt.% or at least about 95 wt.% or at least about 99.0 wt.% or even at least about 99.9 wt.%. According to still other embodiments, the content of the thermoplastic elastomer component in the blended composite mixture may be not greater than about 100 wt.% for a total dry weight of the blended composite mixture or not greater than about 99.9 wt.% or not greater than about 99.0 wt.% or not greater than about 97 wt.% or not greater than about 93 wt.% or not greater than about 90 wt.% or not greater than about 85 wt.% or not greater than about 80 wt.% or not greater than about 75 wt.% or not greater than about 70 wt.% or not greater than about 65 wt.% or not greater than about 60 wt.% or not greater than about 55 wt.% or not greater than about 50 wt.%. It will be appreciated that the content of the thermoplastic elastomer component in the blended composite mixture may be within a range between any of the minimum and maximum values noted above. It will be further appreciated that the content of the thermoplastic elastomer component in the blended composite mixture may be any value between any of the minimum and maximum values noted above.

According to yet other embodiments, the hydrophilic polymer component in the blended composite mixture may have a particular water-absorption capacity. As used herein, the “water-absorption capacity” of a hydrophilic polymer describes the amount of water that can be absorbed by a polymer (i.e., fully submerged in water) at equilibrium, at 23 °C, per amount of the hydrophilic polymer. According to certain embodiments, the hydrophilic polymer component in the blended composite mixture may have a water-absorption capacity of at least about 50 wt.%, such as, at least about 55 wt.% or at least about 60 wt.% or at least about 65 wt.% or at least about 70 wt.% or at least about 75 wt.% or at least about 80 wt.% or at least about 85 wt.% or at least about 90 wt.% or at least about 95 wt.% or at least about 100 wt.%. It will be appreciated that the water-absorption capacity of the hydrophilic polymer component in the blended composite mixture may be within a range between any of the values noted above. It will be further appreciated that the water-absorption capacity of the hydrophilic polymer component in the blended composite mixture may be any value between any of the values noted above.

According to certain embodiments, the hydrophilic polymer component in the blended composite mixture may include a particular material. For example, the hydrophilic polymer component in the blended composite mixture may include a polyvinyl alcohol. According to certain other embodiments, the hydrophilic polymer component in the blended composite mixture may include a polyvinyl pyrrolidone. According to other embodiments, the hydrophilic polymer component in the blended composite mixture may consist of a particular material. For example, the hydrophilic polymer component in the blended composite mixture may consist of a polyvinyl alcohol. According to certain other embodiments, the hydrophilic polymer component in the blended composite mixture may consist of a polyvinyl pyrrolidone.

According to yet other embodiments, the hydrophilic polymer component in the blended composite mixture may include one or more polysaccharides. According to still other embodiments, the hydrophilic polymer component in the blended composite mixture may include one or more ionic polysaccharides. According to still other embodiments, the hydrophilic polymer component in the blended composite mixture may include one or more ionically crosslinkable polysaccharides (e.g., a Ca²⁺-cross-linked polysaccharide with carboxylic acid functional groups). According to yet other embodiments, the hydrophilic polymer component in the blended composite mixture may consist of one or more polysaccharides. According to still other embodiments, the hydrophilic polymer component in the blended composite mixture may consist of one or more ionic polysaccharides. According to still other embodiments, the hydrophilic polymer component in the blended composite mixture may consist of one or more ionically crosslinkable polysaccharides (e.g., a Ca²⁺-cross-linked polysaccharide with carboxylic acid functional groups).

According to yet other embodiments, the one of more polysaccharides of the hydrophilic polymer component in the blended composite mixture may be selected from starch, alginate, cellulose, hyaluronic acid, chitin, and any derivative thereof.

According to still other embodiments, the hydrophilic polymer component in the blended composite mixture may include plurality of buffering functional groups.

According to yet other embodiments, the hydrophilic polymer component in the blended composite mixture may include a saccharide selected from oligosaccharides and polysaccharides. According to certain embodiments, the hydrophilic polymer in the blended composite mixture may include a particular content of oligosaccharides or polysaccharides. For example, the hydrophilic polymer component in the blended composite mixture may include a content of oligosaccharides and polysaccharides of at least about 10 wt.% for a total weight of the hydrophilic polymer component, such as, at least about 20 wt.% or at least about 30 wt.% or at least about 40 wt.% or at least about 50 wt.%. According to still other embodiments, the hydrophilic polymer component in the blended composite mixture may include a content of oligosaccharides or polysaccharides of not greater than about 95 wt.% for a total weight of the hydrophilic polymer component, such as not greater than about 90 wt.% or not greater than about 85 wt.% or not greater than about 80 wt.% or not greater than about 75 wt.% or not greater than about 70 wt.%. It will be appreciated that the content of oligosaccharides or polysaccharides in the hydrophilic polymer component in the blended composite mixture may be within a range between any of the minimum and maximum values noted above. It will be further appreciated that the content of oligosaccharides or polysaccharides in the hydrophilic polymer component in the blended composite mixture may be any value between any of the minimum and maximum values noted above.

a-linked repeat unit according to Formula I; R2 and R3 may be each independently selected from -OR’, -0C(0)R’, and -OR”; each R’ may be independently selected from hydrogen and optionally substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, aryl, and heteroaryl; and each R’ ’ may be independently selected from nitrate, sulfate, and phosphate.

According to still other embodiments, R2 and R3 of one or more repeat units may be independently -OR’ or -0C(0)R’, and each R’ may be independently selected from optionally substituted (e.g., optionally substituted with 1-3 groups selected from hydroxyl, oxo, ether, thiol, thioether, amine, ester, amide, cyano, isocyanate, thioisocyanate, carbamate, epoxy, and halogen) alkyl, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, aryl, and heteroaryl. In certain embodiments, R2 and R3 of one or more repeat units are -OR’, and each R’ may be independently hydrogen or alkyl (e.g., optionally substituted with a hydroxyl group). In certain embodiments, R2 of one or more repeat units is -0C(0)R’ and each R’ may be independently hydrogen or alkyl (e.g., optionally substituted with a hydroxyl group). In certain such embodiments, R3 of the one or more repeat units may be -OH. In certain embodiments, R3 of one or more repeat units may be -0C(0)R’, and each R’ may be independently hydrogen or alkyl (e.g., optionally substituted with a hydroxyl group). In certain such embodiments, R2 of the one or more repeat units may be -OH. According to yet other embodiments, one or more (e.g., each) of Rl, R2, and R3 of one or more repeat units may be -OR”. In certain such embodiments, R” may be nitrate. For example, in certain embodiments, each of Rl, R2, and R3 of one or more repeat units of the polysaccharide may be nitrate.

R7 and R8 may be each independently selected from -OR’, and -OC(0)R’, and -OR”; each R’ may be independently selected from hydrogen and optionally substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, aryl, and heteroaryl; and each R’ ’ may be independently selected from nitrate, sulfate, and phosphate.

According to still other embodiments, R7 and R8 of one or more repeat units may be independently -OR’ or -OC(0)R’, and each R’ may be independently selected from optionally substituted (e.g., optionally substituted with 1-3 groups selected from hydroxyl, oxo, ether, thiol, thioether, amine, ester, amide, cyano, isocyanate, thioisocyanate, carbamate, epoxy, and halogen) alkyl, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, aryl, and heteroaryl. In certain embodiments, R7 and R8 of one or more repeat units may be -OR’, and each R’ may be independently hydrogen or alkyl (e.g., optionally substituted with a hydroxyl group). In certain embodiments, R7 of one or more repeat units may be -OC(0)R’ and each R’ may be independently hydrogen or alkyl (e.g., optionally substituted with a hydroxyl group). In certain such embodiments, R8 of the one or more repeat units may be -OH. In certain embodiments, R8 of one or more repeat units may be -OC(0)R’, and each R’ may be independently hydrogen or alkyl (e.g., optionally substituted with a hydroxyl group). In certain such embodiments, R7 of the one or more repeat units may be -OH.

In certain embodiments, one or more (e.g., each) of R9, RIO, and R11 of one or more repeat units may be -OR”. In certain such embodiments, R” may be nitrate. For example, in certain embodiments, each of R9, RIO, and R11 of one or more repeat units of the polysaccharide may be nitrate. In certain embodiments as otherwise described herein, the saccharide may include a polysaccharide including l,4-P-linked repeat units repeat units according to Formula V:

In certain embodiments, one or more (e.g., each) of R13, R14, R15, and R16 of one or more repeat units may be -OR”. In certain such embodiments, R” may be nitrate. For example, in certain embodiments, each of R13, R14, R15, and R16 of one or more repeat units of the polysaccharide may be nitrate. According to certain embodiments, the oligosaccharide or polysaccharide of the saccharide may have a particular molecular weight. For example, the oligosaccharide or polysaccharide of the saccharide may have a molecular weight of at least 2,500 Da.

According to certain other embodiments, the oligosaccharide or polysaccharide of the saccharide may have a molecular weight is within the range of 16 kDa to 16 MDa. For example, in certain such embodiments, the oligosaccharide or polysaccharide of the saccharide may have a molecular weight within the range of 16 kDa to 12 MDa, or 16 kDa to 8 MDa, or 16 kDa to 4 MDa, or 16 kDa to 1 MDa, or 16 kDa to 800 kDa, or 16 kDa to 600 kDa, or 16 kDa to 400 MDa, or 16 kDa to 200 MDa, or 16 kDa to 100 kDa, or 25 kDa to 16 MDa, or 50 kDa to 16 MDa, or 100 kDa to 16 MDa, or 250 kDa to 16 MDa, or 500 kDa to 16 MDa, or 1 MDa to 16 MDa, or 4 MDa to 16 MDa, or 8 MDa to 16 MDa, or 12 MDa to 16 MDa, or 25 kDa to 250 kDa, or 100 kDa to 500 kDa, or 100 kDa to 1 MDa, or 500 kDa to 2 MDa, or 1 MDa to 4 MDa, or 2 MDa to 5 MDa, or 3 MDa to 8 MDa, or 4 MDa to 10 MDa, or 6 MDa to 12 MDa, or 8 MDa to 14 MDa.

According to yet other embodiments, the blended composite mixture may include a particular content of the hydrophilic polymer component. For example, the content of the hydrophilic polymer component in the blended composite mixture may be at least about 0.1 wt.% for a total dry weight of the blended composite mixture, such as, at least about 1.0 wt.% or at least about 5 wt.% or at least about 10 wt.% or at least about 15 wt.% or at least about 20 wt.% or at least about 25 wt.% or at least about 30 wt.% or at least about 35 wt.% or at least about 40 wt.% or at least about 45 wt.% or at least about 50 wt.% or at least about 55 wt.% or at least about 60 wt.% or at least about 65 wt.%. According to still other embodiments, the content of the hydrophilic polymer component in the blended composite mixture may be not greater than about 70 wt.% for a total dry weight of the blended composite mixture, such as, not greater than about 65 wt.% or not greater than about 60 wt.% or not greater than about 55 wt.% or not greater than about 50 wt.% or not greater than about 45 wt.% or not greater than about 40 wt.% or not greater than about 35 wt.% or not greater than about 30 wt.% or not greater than about 25 wt.% or not greater than about 20 wt.% or not greater than about 15 wt.% or not greater than about 10 wt.% or not greater than about 5 wt.%. It will be appreciated that the content of the hydrophilic polymer component in the blended composite mixture may be within a range between any of the minimum and maximum values noted above. It will be further appreciated that the content of the hydrophilic polymer component in the blended composite mixture may be any value between any of the minimum and maximum values noted above. According to certain embodiments, the thermoplastic elastomer component and the polymer component are present in the composite article in a dry weight ratio within the range of 95:5 to 40:60. According to still other embodiments, the thermoplastic elastomer component and the polymer component are present in the composite article in a dry weight ratio within the range of 90:10 to 50:50. According to yet other embodiments, the thermoplastic elastomer component and the polymer component are present in the composite article in a dry weight ratio within the range of 85:15 to 55:45.

According to particular embodiments, the thermoplastic elastomer component of the composite article may include a particular material. For example, the thermoplastic elastomer component may include a copolymer, a block polymer, or any combination thereof.

According to still other embodiments, the thermoplastic elastomer component in the composite article may consist of a copolymer, a block polymer, or any combination thereof.

According to still other embodiments, the copolymer of the thermoplastic elastomer component in the composite article may include a polyolefin block, a poly ether block, a polyurethane block, a polyamide block, a polyester block, or any combination thereof. According to yet other embodiments, the copolymer of the thermoplastic elastomer component in the composite article may consist of a polyolefin block, a polyether block, a polyurethane block, a polyamide block, a polyester block, or any combination thereof.

According to yet other embodiments, the block polymer of the thermoplastic elastomer component in the composite article may include a polyolefin block, a polyether block, a polyurethane block, a polyamide block, a polyester block, or any combination thereof. According to yet other embodiments, the block polymer of the thermoplastic elastomer component in the composite article may consist of a polyolefin block, a polyether block, a polyurethane block, a polyamide block, a polyester block, or any combination thereof.

According to still other embodiments, the thermoplastic elastomer component in the composite article may include a polyether block amide. According to yet other embodiments, the thermoplastic elastomer component in the composite article may consist of a polyether block amide.

According to yet other embodiments, the composite article may include a particular content of the thermoplastic elastomer component. For example, the content of the thermoplastic elastomer component in the composite article may be at least about 30 wt.% for a total dry weight of the composite article, such as, at least about 35 wt.% or at least about 40 wt.% or at least about 45 wt.% or at least about 50 wt.% or at least about 55 wt.% or at least about 60 wt.% or at least about 65 wt.% or at least about 70 wt.% or at least about 75 wt.% or at least about 80 wt.% or at least about 85 wt.% or at least about 90 wt.% or at least about 95 wt.% or at least about 99.0 wt.% or even at least about 99.9 wt.%. According to still other embodiments, the content of the thermoplastic elastomer component in the composite article may be not greater than about 100 wt.% for a total dry weight of the composite article or not greater than about 99.9 wt.% or not greater than about 99.0 wt.% or not greater than about 97 wt.% or not greater than about 93 wt.% or not greater than about 90 wt.% or not greater than about 85 wt.% or not greater than about 80 wt.% or not greater than about 75 wt.% or not greater than about 70 wt.% or not greater than about 65 wt.% or not greater than about 60 wt.% or not greater than about 55 wt.% or not greater than about 50 wt.%. It will be appreciated that the content of the thermoplastic elastomer component in the composite article may be within a range between any of the minimum and maximum values noted above. It will be further appreciated that the content of the thermoplastic elastomer component in the composite article may be any value between any of the minimum and maximum values noted above.

According to yet other embodiments, the hydrophilic polymer component in the composite article may have a particular water-absorption capacity. As used herein, the “water-absorption capacity” of a hydrophilic polymer describes the amount of water that can be absorbed by a polymer (i.e., fully submerged in water) at equilibrium, at 23 °C, per amount of the hydrophilic polymer. According to certain embodiments, the hydrophilic polymer component in the composite article may have a water-absorption capacity of at least about 50 wt.%, such as, at least about 55 wt.% or at least about 60 wt.% or at least about 65 wt.% or at least about 70 wt.% or at least about 75 wt.% or at least about 80 wt.% or at least about 85 wt.% or at least about 90 wt.% or at least about 95 wt.% or at least about 100 wt.%. It will be appreciated that the water-absorption capacity of the hydrophilic polymer component in the composite article may be within a range between any of the values noted above. It will be further appreciated that the water-absorption capacity of the hydrophilic polymer component in the composite article may be any value between any of the values noted above.

According to certain embodiments, the hydrophilic polymer component in the composite article may include a particular material. For example, the hydrophilic polymer component in the composite article may include a polyvinyl alcohol. According to certain other embodiments, the hydrophilic polymer component in the composite article may include a polyvinyl pyrrolidone. According to other embodiments, the hydrophilic polymer component in the composite article may consist of a particular material. For example, the hydrophilic polymer component in the composite article may consist of a polyvinyl alcohol. According to certain other embodiments, the hydrophilic polymer component in the composite article may consist of a polyvinyl pyrrolidone.

According to yet other embodiments, the hydrophilic polymer component in the composite article may include one or more polysaccharides. According to still other embodiments, the hydrophilic polymer component in the composite article may include one or more ionic polysaccharides. According to still other embodiments, the hydrophilic polymer component in the composite article may include one or more ionically crosslinkable polysaccharides (e.g., a Ca²⁺-cross -linked polysaccharide with carboxylic acid functional groups). According to yet other embodiments, the hydrophilic polymer component in the composite article may consist of one or more polysaccharides. According to still other embodiments, the hydrophilic polymer component in the composite article may consist of one or more ionic polysaccharides. According to still other embodiments, the hydrophilic polymer component in the composite article may consist of one or more ionically crosslinkable polysaccharides (e.g., a Ca²⁺-cross -linked polysaccharide with carboxylic acid functional groups).

According to yet other embodiments, the one of more polysaccharides of the hydrophilic polymer component in the composite article may be selected from starch, alginate, cellulose, hyaluronic acid, chitin, and any derivative thereof.

According to still other embodiments, the hydrophilic polymer component in the composite article may include plurality of buffering functional groups.

According to yet other embodiments, the hydrophilic polymer component in the composite article may include a saccharide selected from oligosaccharides and polysaccharides. According to certain embodiments, the hydrophilic polymer in the composite article may include a particular content of oligosaccharides or polysaccharides. For example, the hydrophilic polymer component in the composite article may include a content of oligosaccharides and polysaccharides of at least about 10 wt.% for a total weight of the hydrophilic polymer component, such as, at least about 20 wt.% or at least about 30 wt.% or at least about 40 wt.% or at least about 50 wt.%. According to still other embodiments, the hydrophilic polymer component in the composite article may include a content of oligosaccharides or polysaccharides of not greater than about 95 wt.% for a total weight of the hydrophilic polymer component, such as not greater than about 90 wt.% or not greater than about 85 wt.% or not greater than about 80 wt.% or not greater than about 75 wt.% or not greater than about 70 wt.%. It will be appreciated that the content of oligosaccharides or polysaccharides in the hydrophilic polymer component in the composite article may be within a range between any of the minimum and maximum values noted above. It will be further appreciated that the content of oligosaccharides or polysaccharides in the hydrophilic polymer component in the composite article may be any value between any of the minimum and maximum values noted above.

According to other embodiments, R1 of one or more repeat units of the polysaccharide may be a repeat unit according to Formula I (i.e., forming a 1,6-a-linkage between repeat units). In certain embodiments, R1 of one or more repeat units is selected from -OR’, -0C(0)R’, and -OR”. In certain such embodiments, R1 of one or more repeat units may be independently -OR’ or -0C(0)R\ and each R’ may be independently selected from optionally substituted (e.g., optionally substituted with 1-3 groups selected from hydroxyl, oxo, ether, thiol, thioether, amine, ester, amide, cyano, isocyanate, thioisocyanate, carbamate, epoxy, and halogen) alkyl, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, aryl, and heteroaryl. In certain embodiments, R1 of one or more repeat units may be -OR’, and each R’ may be independently hydrogen or alkyl (e.g., optionally substituted with a hydroxyl group). In certain embodiments, R1 of one or more repeat units may be -0C(0)R’, and each R1 may be independently hydrogen or alkyl (e.g., optionally substituted with a hydroxyl group).

According to still other embodiments, R2 and R3 of one or more repeat units may be independently -OR’ or -0C(0)R’, and each R’ may be independently selected from optionally substituted (e.g., optionally substituted with 1-3 groups selected from hydroxyl, oxo, ether, thiol, thioether, amine, ester, amide, cyano, isocyanate, thioisocyanate, carbamate, epoxy, and halogen) alkyl, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, aryl, and heteroaryl. In certain embodiments, R2 and R3 of one or more repeat units are -OR’, and each R’ may be independently hydrogen or alkyl (e.g., optionally substituted with a hydroxyl group). In certain embodiments, R2 of one or more repeat units is -OC(0)R’ and each R’ may be independently hydrogen or alkyl (e.g., optionally substituted with a hydroxyl group). In certain such embodiments, R3 of the one or more repeat units may be -OH. In certain embodiments, R3 of one or more repeat units may be -OC(0)R’, and each R’ may be independently hydrogen or alkyl (e.g., optionally substituted with a hydroxyl group). In certain such embodiments, R2 of the one or more repeat units may be -OH.

According to still other embodiments, the polysaccharide may include homopolymeric blocks of l,4-P-linked repeat units according to Formula II and homopolymeric blocks of l,4-P-linked repeat units according to Formula III, the homopolymeric blocks also l,4-P-linked. In certain embodiments, the polysaccharide may include blocks of l,4-P-linked, alternating repeat units of Formula II and repeat units of Formula PI.

According to still other embodiments, R7 and R8 of one or more repeat units may be independently -OR’ or -0C(0)R’, and each R’ may be independently selected from optionally substituted (e.g., optionally substituted with 1-3 groups selected from hydroxyl, oxo, ether, thiol, thioether, amine, ester, amide, cyano, isocyanate, thioisocyanate, carbamate, epoxy, and halogen) alkyl, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, aryl, and heteroaryl. In certain embodiments, R7 and R8 of one or more repeat units may be -OR’, and each R’ may be independently hydrogen or alkyl (e.g., optionally substituted with a hydroxyl group). In certain embodiments, R7 of one or more repeat units may be -0C(0)R’ and each R’ may be independently hydrogen or alkyl (e.g., optionally substituted with a hydroxyl group). In certain such embodiments, R8 of the one or more repeat units may be -OH. In certain embodiments, R8 of one or more repeat units may be -0C(0)R’, and each R’ may be independently hydrogen or alkyl (e.g., optionally substituted with a hydroxyl group). In certain such embodiments, R7 of the one or more repeat units may be -OH.

According to yet other embodiments, the composite article may include a particular content of the hydrophilic polymer component. For example, the content of the hydrophilic polymer component in the composite article may be at least about 0.1 wt.% for a total dry weight of the composite article, such as, at least about 1.0 wt.% or at least about 5 wt.% or at least about 10 wt.% or at least about 15 wt.% or at least about 20 wt.% or at least about 25 wt.% or at least about 30 wt.% or at least about 35 wt.% or at least about 40 wt.% or at least about 45 wt.% or at least about 50 wt.% or at least about 55 wt.% or at least about 60 wt.% or at least about 65 wt.%. According to still other embodiments, the content of the hydrophilic polymer component in the composite article may be not greater than about 70 wt.% for a total dry weight of the composite article, such as, not greater than about 65 wt.% or not greater than about 60 wt.% or not greater than about 55 wt.% or not greater than about 50 wt.% or not greater than about 45 wt.% or not greater than about 40 wt.% or not greater than about 35 wt.% or not greater than about 30 wt.% or not greater than about 25 wt.% or not greater than about 20 wt.% or not greater than about 15 wt.% or not greater than about 10 wt.% or not greater than about 5 wt.%. It will be appreciated that the content of the hydrophilic polymer component in the composite article may be within a range between any of the minimum and maximum values noted above. It will be further appreciated that the content of the hydrophilic polymer component in the composite article may be any value between any of the minimum and maximum values noted above.

According to yet other embodiments, the composite article may be capable of maintaining a particular pH of an aqueous solution in contact with the exterior surface. For example, the composite article may be capable of maintaining a pH of an aqueous solution in contact with the exterior surface of at least about 5, such as, at least about 5.5 or at least about 6 or at least about 6.5 or at least about 7. According to yet other embodiments, the composite article may be capable of maintaining a pH of an aqueous solution in contact with the exterior surface of not greater than about 9 or not greater than 8.5 or not greater than about 8 or not greater than about 7.5. It will be appreciated that the composite article may be capable of maintaining a pH of an aqueous solution in contact with the exterior surface within a range between any of the minimum and maximum values noted above. It will be further appreciated that the composite article may be capable of maintaining a pH of an aqueous solution in contact with the exterior surface of any value between any of the minimum and maximum values noted above.

According to still other embodiments, the composite article may further include a coating overlying the exterior surface of the composite article. According to certain embodiments, the coating may include one or more active components. According to certain embodiments, the one or more active components may be selected from pharmaceutical compounds, proteins, peptides, cells, or a mixture thereof.

According to still other embodiments, the composite article may be capable of releasing the one or more active components into an aqueous solution in contact with the exterior surface at a rate of at least 1 milligram of active component per hour, per square centimeter of exterior surface.

According to yet other embodiments, the exterior surface of the composite article may have a particular coefficient of friction as measured using a tribometric device. For example, the exterior surface of the composite article may have a coefficient of friction of not greater than about 0.1, such as, not greater than about 0.075 or not greater than about 0.05 or even not greater than about 0.03. It will be appreciated that the exterior surface of the composite article may have a coefficient of friction within a range between any of the minimum and maximum values noted above. It will be further appreciated that the exterior surface of the composite article may have a coefficient of friction of any value between any of the minimum and maximum values noted above.

According to certain embodiments, an composite article as otherwise described herein (e.g., prepared according to a method as otherwise described herein and including the blended composite mixture as otherwise described herein) may be in the form of a catheter.

According to certain embodiments, the thermoplastic elastomer component and the polymer component are present in the catheter in a dry weight ratio within the range of 95:5 to 40:60. According to still other embodiments, the thermoplastic elastomer component and the polymer component are present in the catheter in a dry weight ratio within the range of 90:10 to 50:50. According to yet other embodiments, the thermoplastic elastomer component and the polymer component are present in the catheter in a dry weight ratio within the range of 85:15 to 55:45.

According to particular embodiments, the thermoplastic elastomer component of the catheter may include a particular material. For example, the thermoplastic elastomer component may include a copolymer, a block polymer, or any combination thereof.

According to still other embodiments, the thermoplastic elastomer component in the catheter may consist of a copolymer, a block polymer, or any combination thereof.

According to still other embodiments, the copolymer of the thermoplastic elastomer component in the catheter may include a polyolefin block, a polyether block, a polyurethane block, a polyamide block, a polyester block, or any combination thereof. According to yet other embodiments, the copolymer of the thermoplastic elastomer component in the catheter may consist of a polyolefin block, a polyether block, a polyurethane block, a polyamide block, a polyester block, or any combination thereof.

According to yet other embodiments, the block polymer of the thermoplastic elastomer component in the catheter may include a polyolefin block, a polyether block, a polyurethane block, a polyamide block, a polyester block, or any combination thereof. According to yet other embodiments, the block polymer of the thermoplastic elastomer component in the catheter may consist of a polyolefin block, a polyether block, a polyurethane block, a polyamide block, a polyester block, or any combination thereof. According to still other embodiments, the thermoplastic elastomer component in the catheter may include a polyether block amide. According to yet other embodiments, the thermoplastic elastomer component in the catheter may consist of a polyether block amide.

According to yet other embodiments, the catheter may include a particular content of the thermoplastic elastomer component. For example, the content of the thermoplastic elastomer component in the catheter may be at least about 30 wt.% for a total dry weight of the catheter, such as, at least about 35 wt.% or at least about 40 wt.% or at least about 45 wt.% or at least about 50 wt.% or at least about 55 wt.% or at least about 60 wt.% or at least about 65 wt.% or at least about 70 wt.% or at least about 75 wt.% or at least about 80 wt.% or at least about 85 wt.% or at least about 90 wt.% or at least about 95 wt.% or at least about 99.0 wt.% or even at least about 99.9 wt.%. According to still other embodiments, the content of the thermoplastic elastomer component in the catheter may be not greater than about 100 wt.% for a total dry weight of the catheter or not greater than about 99.9 wt.% or not greater than about 99.0 wt.% or not greater than about 97 wt.% or not greater than about 93 wt.% or not greater than about 90 wt.% or not greater than about 85 wt.% or not greater than about 80 wt.% or not greater than about 75 wt.% or not greater than about 70 wt.% or not greater than about 65 wt.% or not greater than about 60 wt.% or not greater than about 55 wt.% or not greater than about 50 wt.%. It will be appreciated that the content of the thermoplastic elastomer component in the catheter may be within a range between any of the minimum and maximum values noted above. It will be further appreciated that the content of the thermoplastic elastomer component in the catheter may be any value between any of the minimum and maximum values noted above.

According to yet other embodiments, the hydrophilic polymer component in the catheter may have a particular water-absorption capacity. As used herein, the “water- absorption capacity” of a hydrophilic polymer describes the amount of water that can be absorbed by a polymer (i.e., fully submerged in water) at equilibrium, at 23 °C, per amount of the hydrophilic polymer. According to certain embodiments, the hydrophilic polymer component in the catheter may have a water-absorption capacity of at least about 50 wt.%, such as, at least about 55 wt.% or at least about 60 wt.% or at least about 65 wt.% or at least about 70 wt.% or at least about 75 wt.% or at least about 80 wt.% or at least about 85 wt.% or at least about 90 wt.% or at least about 95 wt.% or at least about 100 wt.%. It will be appreciated that the water-absorption capacity of the hydrophilic polymer component in the catheter may be within a range between any of the values noted above. It will be further appreciated that the water-absorption capacity of the hydrophilic polymer component in the catheter may be any value between any of the values noted above.

According to certain embodiments, the hydrophilic polymer component in the catheter may include a particular material. For example, the hydrophilic polymer component in the catheter may include a polyvinyl alcohol. According to certain other embodiments, the hydrophilic polymer component in the catheter may include a polyvinyl pyrrolidone. According to other embodiments, the hydrophilic polymer component in the catheter may consist of a particular material. For example, the hydrophilic polymer component in the catheter may consist of a polyvinyl alcohol. According to certain other embodiments, the hydrophilic polymer component in the catheter may consist of a polyvinyl pyrrolidone.

According to yet other embodiments, the hydrophilic polymer component in the catheter may include one or more polysaccharides. According to still other embodiments, the hydrophilic polymer component in the catheter may include one or more ionic polysaccharides. According to still other embodiments, the hydrophilic polymer component in the catheter may include one or more ionically crosslinkable polysaccharides (e.g., a Ca²⁺- cross-linked polysaccharide with carboxylic acid functional groups). According to yet other embodiments, the hydrophilic polymer component in the catheter may consist of one or more polysaccharides. According to still other embodiments, the hydrophilic polymer component in the catheter may consist of one or more ionic polysaccharides. According to still other embodiments, the hydrophilic polymer component in the catheter may consist of one or more ionically crosslinkable polysaccharides (e.g., a Ca²⁺-cross-linked polysaccharide with carboxylic acid functional groups).

According to yet other embodiments, the one of more polysaccharides of the hydrophilic polymer component in the catheter may be selected from starch, alginate, cellulose, hyaluronic acid, chitin, and any derivative thereof.

According to still other embodiments, the hydrophilic polymer component in the catheter may include plurality of buffering functional groups.

According to yet other embodiments, the hydrophilic polymer component in the catheter may include a saccharide selected from oligosaccharides and polysaccharides. According to certain embodiments, the hydrophilic polymer in the catheter may include a particular content of oligosaccharides or polysaccharides. For example, the hydrophilic polymer component in the catheter may include a content of oligosaccharides and polysaccharides of at least about 10 wt.% for a total weight of the hydrophilic polymer component, such as, at least about 20 wt.% or at least about 30 wt.% or at least about 40 wt.% or at least about 50 wt.%. According to still other embodiments, the hydrophilic polymer component in the catheter may include a content of oligosaccharides or polysaccharides of not greater than about 95 wt.% for a total weight of the hydrophilic polymer component, such as not greater than about 90 wt.% or not greater than about 85 wt.% or not greater than about 80 wt.% or not greater than about 75 wt.% or not greater than about 70 wt.%. It will be appreciated that the content of oligosaccharides or polysaccharides in the hydrophilic polymer component in the catheter may be within a range between any of the minimum and maximum values noted above. It will be further appreciated that the content of oligosaccharides or polysaccharides in the hydrophilic polymer component in the catheter may be any value between any of the minimum and maximum values noted above.

a-linked repeat unit according to Formula I; R2 and R3 may be each independently selected from -OR’, -OC(0)R’, and -OR”; each R’ may be independently selected from hydrogen and optionally substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, aryl, and heteroaryl; and each R” may be independently selected from nitrate, sulfate, and phosphate. According to other embodiments, R1 of one or more repeat units of the polysaccharide may be a repeat unit according to Formula I (i.e., forming a 1,6-a-linkage between repeat units). In certain embodiments, R1 of one or more repeat units is selected from -OR’, -0C(0)R’, and -OR”. In certain such embodiments, R1 of one or more repeat units may be independently -OR’ or -0C(0)R’, and each R’ may be independently selected from optionally substituted (e.g., optionally substituted with 1-3 groups selected from hydroxyl, oxo, ether, thiol, thioether, amine, ester, amide, cyano, isocyanate, thioisocyanate, carbamate, epoxy, and halogen) alkyl, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, aryl, and heteroaryl. In certain embodiments, R1 of one or more repeat units may be -OR’, and each R’ may be independently hydrogen or alkyl (e.g., optionally substituted with a hydroxyl group). In certain embodiments, R1 of one or more repeat units may be -0C(0)R’, and each R1 may be independently hydrogen or alkyl (e.g., optionally substituted with a hydroxyl group).

According to yet other embodiments, the catheter may include a particular content of the hydrophilic polymer component. For example, the content of the hydrophilic polymer component in the catheter may be at least about 0.1 wt.% for a total dry weight of the catheter, such as, at least about 1.0 wt.% or at least about 5 wt.% or at least about 10 wt.% or at least about 15 wt.% or at least about 20 wt.% or at least about 25 wt.% or at least about 30 wt.% or at least about 35 wt.% or at least about 40 wt.% or at least about 45 wt.% or at least about 50 wt.% or at least about 55 wt.% or at least about 60 wt.% or at least about 65 wt.%. According to still other embodiments, the content of the hydrophilic polymer component in the catheter may be not greater than about 70 wt.% for a total dry weight of the catheter, such as, not greater than about 65 wt.% or not greater than about 60 wt.% or not greater than about 55 wt.% or not greater than about 50 wt.% or not greater than about 45 wt.% or not greater than about 40 wt.% or not greater than about 35 wt.% or not greater than about 30 wt.% or not greater than about 25 wt.% or not greater than about 20 wt.% or not greater than about 15 wt.% or not greater than about 10 wt.% or not greater than about 5 wt.%. It will be appreciated that the content of the hydrophilic polymer component in the catheter may be within a range between any of the minimum and maximum values noted above. It will be further appreciated that the content of the hydrophilic polymer component in the catheter may be any value between any of the minimum and maximum values noted above.

According to yet other embodiments, the catheter may be capable of maintaining a particular pH of an aqueous solution in contact with the exterior surface. For example, the catheter may be capable of maintaining a pH of an aqueous solution in contact with the exterior surface of at least about 5, such as, at least about 5.5 or at least about 6 or at least about 6.5 or at least about 7. According to yet other embodiments, the catheter may be capable of maintaining a pH of an aqueous solution in contact with the exterior surface of not greater than about 9 or not greater than 8.5 or not greater than about 8 or not greater than about 7.5. It will be appreciated that the catheter may be capable of maintaining a pH of an aqueous solution in contact with the exterior surface within a range between any of the minimum and maximum values noted above. It will be further appreciated that the catheter may be capable of maintaining a pH of an aqueous solution in contact with the exterior surface of any value between any of the minimum and maximum values noted above.

According to still other embodiments, the catheter may further include a coating overlying the exterior surface of the catheter. According to certain embodiments, the coating may include one or more active components. According to certain embodiments, the one or more active components may be selected from pharmaceutical compounds, proteins, peptides, cells, or a mixture thereof.

According to still other embodiments, the catheter may be capable of releasing the one or more active components into an aqueous solution in contact with the exterior surface at a rate of at least 1 milligram of active component per hour, per square centimeter of exterior surface.

According to yet other embodiments, the exterior surface of the catheter may have a particular coefficient of friction as measured using a tribometric device. For example, the exterior surface of the catheter may have a coefficient of friction of not greater than about 0.1, such as, not greater than about 0.075 or not greater than about 0.05 or even not greater than about 0.03. It will be appreciated that the exterior surface of the catheter may have a coefficient of friction within a range between any of the minimum and maximum values noted above. It will be further appreciated that the exterior surface of the catheter may have a coefficient of friction of any value between any of the minimum and maximum values noted above.

According to certain embodiments, an composite article as otherwise described herein (e.g., prepared according to a method as otherwise described herein and including the blended composite mixture as otherwise described herein) may be in the form of a wound dressing.

According to certain embodiments, the thermoplastic elastomer component and the polymer component are present in the wound dressing in a dry weight ratio within the range of 95:5 to 40:60. According to still other embodiments, the thermoplastic elastomer component and the polymer component are present in the wound dressing in a dry weight ratio within the range of 90:10 to 50:50. According to yet other embodiments, the thermoplastic elastomer component and the polymer component are present in the wound dressing in a dry weight ratio within the range of 85:15 to 55:45.

According to particular embodiments, the thermoplastic elastomer component of the wound dressing may include a particular material. For example, the thermoplastic elastomer component may include a copolymer, a block polymer, or any combination thereof.

According to still other embodiments, the thermoplastic elastomer component in the wound dressing may consist of a copolymer, a block polymer, or any combination thereof.

According to still other embodiments, the copolymer of the thermoplastic elastomer component in the wound dressing may include a polyolefin block, a polyether block, a polyurethane block, a polyamide block, a polyester block, or any combination thereof. According to yet other embodiments, the copolymer of the thermoplastic elastomer component in the wound dressing may consist of a polyolefin block, a polyether block, a polyurethane block, a polyamide block, a polyester block, or any combination thereof.

According to yet other embodiments, the block polymer of the thermoplastic elastomer component in the wound dressing may include a polyolefin block, a poly ether block, a polyurethane block, a polyamide block, a polyester block, or any combination thereof. According to yet other embodiments, the block polymer of the thermoplastic elastomer component in the wound dressing may consist of a polyolefin block, a polyether block, a polyurethane block, a polyamide block, a polyester block, or any combination thereof.

According to still other embodiments, the thermoplastic elastomer component in the wound dressing may include a polyether block amide. According to yet other embodiments, the thermoplastic elastomer component in the wound dressing may consist of a polyether block amide.

According to yet other embodiments, the wound dressing may include a particular content of the thermoplastic elastomer component. For example, the content of the thermoplastic elastomer component in the wound dressing may be at least about 30 wt.% for a total dry weight of the wound dressing, such as, at least about 35 wt.% or at least about 40 wt.% or at least about 45 wt.% or at least about 50 wt.% or at least about 55 wt.% or at least about 60 wt.% or at least about 65 wt.% or at least about 70 wt.% or at least about 75 wt.% or at least about 80 wt.% or at least about 85 wt.% or at least about 90 wt.% or at least about 95 wt.% or at least about 99.0 wt.% or even at least about 99.9 wt.%. According to still other embodiments, the content of the thermoplastic elastomer component in the wound dressing may be not greater than about 100 wt.% for a total dry weight of the wound dressing or not greater than about 99.9 wt.% or not greater than about 99.0 wt.% or not greater than about 97 wt.% or not greater than about 93 wt.% or not greater than about 90 wt.% or not greater than about 85 wt.% or not greater than about 80 wt.% or not greater than about 75 wt.% or not greater than about 70 wt.% or not greater than about 65 wt.% or not greater than about 60 wt.% or not greater than about 55 wt.% or not greater than about 50 wt.%. It will be appreciated that the content of the thermoplastic elastomer component in the wound dressing may be within a range between any of the minimum and maximum values noted above. It will be further appreciated that the content of the thermoplastic elastomer component in the wound dressing may be any value between any of the minimum and maximum values noted above.

According to yet other embodiments, the hydrophilic polymer component in the wound dressing may have a particular water-absorption capacity. As used herein, the “water- absorption capacity” of a hydrophilic polymer describes the amount of water that can be absorbed by a polymer (i.e., fully submerged in water) at equilibrium, at 23 °C, per amount of the hydrophilic polymer. According to certain embodiments, the hydrophilic polymer component in the wound dressing may have a water-absorption capacity of at least about 50 wt.%, such as, at least about 55 wt.% or at least about 60 wt.% or at least about 65 wt.% or at least about 70 wt.% or at least about 75 wt.% or at least about 80 wt.% or at least about 85 wt.% or at least about 90 wt.% or at least about 95 wt.% or at least about 100 wt.%. It will be appreciated that the water-absorption capacity of the hydrophilic polymer component in the wound dressing may be within a range between any of the values noted above. It will be further appreciated that the water-absorption capacity of the hydrophilic polymer component in the wound dressing may be any value between any of the values noted above.

According to certain embodiments, the hydrophilic polymer component in the wound dressing may include a particular material. For example, the hydrophilic polymer component in the wound dressing may include a polyvinyl alcohol. According to certain other embodiments, the hydrophilic polymer component in the wound dressing may include a polyvinyl pyrrolidone. According to other embodiments, the hydrophilic polymer component in the wound dressing may consist of a particular material. For example, the hydrophilic polymer component in the wound dressing may consist of a polyvinyl alcohol. According to certain other embodiments, the hydrophilic polymer component in the wound dressing may consist of a polyvinyl pyrrolidone.

According to yet other embodiments, the hydrophilic polymer component in the wound dressing may include one or more polysaccharides. According to still other embodiments, the hydrophilic polymer component in the wound dressing may include one or more ionic polysaccharides. According to still other embodiments, the hydrophilic polymer component in the wound dressing may include one or more ionically crosslinkable polysaccharides (e.g., a Ca²⁺-cross -linked polysaccharide with carboxylic acid functional groups). According to yet other embodiments, the hydrophilic polymer component in the wound dressing may consist of one or more polysaccharides. According to still other embodiments, the hydrophilic polymer component in the wound dressing may consist of one or more ionic polysaccharides. According to still other embodiments, the hydrophilic polymer component in the wound dressing may consist of one or more ionically crosslinkable polysaccharides (e.g., a Ca²⁺-cross -linked polysaccharide with carboxylic acid functional groups).

According to yet other embodiments, the one of more polysaccharides of the hydrophilic polymer component in the wound dressing may be selected from starch, alginate, cellulose, hyaluronic acid, chitin, and any derivative thereof.

According to still other embodiments, the hydrophilic polymer component in the wound dressing may include plurality of buffering functional groups.

According to yet other embodiments, the hydrophilic polymer component in the wound dressing may include a saccharide selected from oligosaccharides and polysaccharides. According to certain embodiments, the hydrophilic polymer in the wound dressing may include a particular content of oligosaccharides or polysaccharides. For example, the hydrophilic polymer component in the wound dressing may include a content of oligosaccharides and polysaccharides of at least about 10 wt.% for a total weight of the hydrophilic polymer component, such as, at least about 20 wt.% or at least about 30 wt.% or at least about 40 wt.% or at least about 50 wt.%. According to still other embodiments, the hydrophilic polymer component in the wound dressing may include a content of oligosaccharides or polysaccharides of not greater than about 95 wt.% for a total weight of the hydrophilic polymer component, such as not greater than about 90 wt.% or not greater than about 85 wt.% or not greater than about 80 wt.% or not greater than about 75 wt.% or not greater than about 70 wt.%. It will be appreciated that the content of oligosaccharides or polysaccharides in the hydrophilic polymer component in the wound dressing may be within a range between any of the minimum and maximum values noted above. It will be further appreciated that the content of oligosaccharides or polysaccharides in the hydrophilic polymer component in the wound dressing may be any value between any of the minimum and maximum values noted above.

As used herein, oligosaccharides may include linear or branched chains of about 3 to about 10 monosaccharides (e.g., glucose, arabinose, xylose, glucosamine, etc.). Further as used herein, polysaccharides may include linear or branched chains of at least about 11 monosaccharides. According to certain embodiments, oligosaccharides and polysaccharides may include synthetic and naturally occurring oligosaccharides and polysaccharides (e.g., fructooligosaccharide, cellulose, chitosan, etc.), and any derivative thereof such as, for example, cellulose derivatives including cellulose acetate propionate, cellulose acetate butyrate, cellulose nitrate, cellulose sulfate, methylcehulose, ethylcehulose, ethyl methyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl methyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, ethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, and croscarmehose sodium.

a-linked repeat unit according to Formula I; R2 and R3 may be each independently selected from -OR’, -0C(0)R\ and -OR”; each R’ may be independently selected from hydrogen and optionally substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, aryl, and heteroaryl; and each R’ ’ may be independently selected from nitrate, sulfate, and phosphate.

According to yet other embodiments, the wound dressing may include a particular content of the hydrophilic polymer component. For example, the content of the hydrophilic polymer component in the wound dressing may be at least about 0.1 wt.% for a total dry weight of the wound dressing, such as, at least about 1.0 wt.% or at least about 5 wt.% or at least about 10 wt.% or at least about 15 wt.% or at least about 20 wt.% or at least about 25 wt.% or at least about 30 wt.% or at least about 35 wt.% or at least about 40 wt.% or at least about 45 wt.% or at least about 50 wt.% or at least about 55 wt.% or at least about 60 wt.% or at least about 65 wt.%. According to still other embodiments, the content of the hydrophilic polymer component in the wound dressing may be not greater than about 70 wt.% for a total dry weight of the wound dressing, such as, not greater than about 65 wt.% or not greater than about 60 wt.% or not greater than about 55 wt.% or not greater than about 50 wt.% or not greater than about 45 wt.% or not greater than about 40 wt.% or not greater than about 35 wt.% or not greater than about 30 wt.% or not greater than about 25 wt.% or not greater than about 20 wt.% or not greater than about 15 wt.% or not greater than about 10 wt.% or not greater than about 5 wt.%. It will be appreciated that the content of the hydrophilic polymer component in the wound dressing may be within a range between any of the minimum and maximum values noted above. It will be further appreciated that the content of the hydrophilic polymer component in the wound dressing may be any value between any of the minimum and maximum values noted above.

According to yet other embodiments, the wound dressing may be capable of maintaining a particular pH of an aqueous solution in contact with the exterior surface. For example, the wound dressing may be capable of maintaining a pH of an aqueous solution in contact with the exterior surface of at least about 5, such as, at least about 5.5 or at least about 6 or at least about 6.5 or at least about 7. According to yet other embodiments, the wound dressing may be capable of maintaining a pH of an aqueous solution in contact with the exterior surface of not greater than about 9 or not greater than 8.5 or not greater than about 8 or not greater than about 7.5. It will be appreciated that the wound dressing may be capable of maintaining a pH of an aqueous solution in contact with the exterior surface within a range between any of the minimum and maximum values noted above. It will be further appreciated that the wound dressing may be capable of maintaining a pH of an aqueous solution in contact with the exterior surface of any value between any of the minimum and maximum values noted above.

According to still other embodiments, the wound dressing may further include a coating overlying the exterior surface of the wound dressing. According to certain embodiments, the coating may include one or more active components. According to certain embodiments, the one or more active components may be selected from pharmaceutical compounds, proteins, peptides, cells, or a mixture thereof.

According to still other embodiments, the wound dressing may be capable of releasing the one or more active components into an aqueous solution in contact with the exterior surface at a rate of at least 1 milligram of active component per hour, per square centimeter of exterior surface.

According to yet other embodiments, the exterior surface of the wound dressing may have a particular coefficient of friction as measured using a tribometric device. For example, the exterior surface of the wound dressing may have a coefficient of friction of not greater than about 0.1, such as, not greater than about 0.075 or not greater than about 0.05 or even not greater than about 0.03. It will be appreciated that the exterior surface of the wound dressing may have a coefficient of friction within a range between any of the minimum and maximum values noted above. It will be further appreciated that the exterior surface of the wound dressing may have a coefficient of friction of any value between any of the minimum and maximum values noted above.

Many different aspects and embodiments are possible. Some of those aspects and embodiments are described herein. After reading this specification, skilled artisans will appreciate that those aspects and embodiments are only illustrative and do not limit the scope of the present invention. Embodiments may be in accordance with any one or more of the embodiments as listed below.

Embodiment 1. A composite article having a major exterior surface, the composite article comprising a blended composite mixture of a thermoplastic elastomer component and a hydrophilic polymer component having a water- absorption capacity of at least 50 wt.%; wherein the thermoplastic elastomer component and the hydrophilic polymer component are present in the blended composite mixture in a dry weight ratio within the range of 99.9:0.1 to 30:70.

Embodiment 2. The composite article of embodiment 1, wherein the thermoplastic elastomer component comprises a copolymer or a block polymer, wherein the copolymer or the block polymer comprises a polyolefin block, a polyether block, a polyurethane block, a polyamide block, a polyester block, or any combination thereof.

Embodiment 3. The composite article of embodiment 1, wherein the thermoplastic elastomer component comprises a polyether block amide.

Embodiment 4. The composite article of embodiment 1, wherein the composite article comprises a thermoplastic elastomer component content of at least about 30 wt.% for a total dry weight of the blended composite mixture or at least about 35 wt.% or at least about 40 wt.% or at least about 45 wt.% or at least about 50 wt.% or at least about 55 wt.% or at least about 60 wt.% or at least about 65 wt.% or at least about 70 wt.% or at least about 75 wt.% or at least about 80 wt.% or at least about 85 wt.% or at least about 90 wt.% or at least about 95 wt.% or at least about 99.0 wt.% or at least about 99.9 wt.% .

Embodiment 5. The composite article of embodiment 1, wherein the composite article comprises a thermoplastic elastomer component content of not greater than about 100 wt.% for a total dry weight of the blended composite mixture or not greater than about 99.9 wt.% or not greater than about 99.0 wt.% or not greater than about 97 wt.% or not greater than about 93 wt.% or not greater than about 90 wt.% or not greater than about 85 wt.% or not greater than about 80 wt.% or not greater than about 75 wt.% or not greater than about 70 wt.% or not greater than about 65 wt.% or not greater than about 60 wt.% or not greater than about 55 wt.% or not greater than about 50 wt.%.

Embodiment 6. The composite article of embodiment 1, wherein the hydrophilic polymer component has a water- absorption capacity of at least about 75 wt.% or at least about 80 wt.% or at least about 85 wt.% or at least about 90 wt.% or at least about 95 wt.% or at least about 100 wt.%.

Embodiment 7. The composite article of embodiment 1, wherein the hydrophilic polymer component comprises a polyvinyl alcohol.

Embodiment 8. The composite article of embodiment 1, wherein the hydrophilic polymer component comprises a polyvinyl pyrrolidone.

Embodiment 9. The composite article of embodiment 1, wherein the hydrophilic polymer component comprises one or more polysaccharides.

Embodiment 10. The composite article of embodiment 1, wherein the hydrophilic polymer component comprises one or more ionic polysaccharides.

Embodiment 11. The composite article of embodiment 1, wherein the hydrophilic polymer component comprises one or more polysaccharides selected from starch, alginate, cellulose, hyaluronic acid, chitin, and any derivative thereof.

Embodiment 12. The composite article of embodiment 1, wherein the hydrophilic polymer component comprises one or more ionically crosslinkable polysaccharides (e.g., a Ca²⁺-cross-linked polysaccharide with carboxylic acid functional groups).

Embodiment 13. The composite article of embodiment 1, wherein the composite article comprises a hydrophilic polymer component content of at least about 0.1 wt.% for a total dry weight of the blended composite mixture or at least about 1.0 wt.% or at least about 5 wt.% or at least about 10 wt.% or at least about 15 wt.% or at least about 20 wt.% or at least about 25 wt.% or at least about 30 wt.% or at least about 35 wt.% or at least about 40 wt.% or at least about 45 wt.% or at least about 50 wt.% or at least about 55 wt.% or at least about 60 wt.% or at least about 65 wt.%.

Embodiment 14. The composite article of embodiment 1, wherein the composite article comprises a polymer component content of not greater than about 70 wt.% for a total dry weight of the blended composite mixture or not greater than about 65 wt.% or not greater than about 60 wt.% or not greater than about 55 wt.% or not greater than about 50 wt.% or not greater than about 45 wt.% or not greater than about 40 wt.% or not greater than about 35 wt.% or not greater than about 30 wt.% or not greater than about 25 wt.% or not greater than about 20 wt.% or not greater than about 15 wt.% or not greater than about 10 wt.% or not greater than about 5 wt.%.

Embodiment 15. The composite article of embodiment 1, wherein the thermoplastic elastomer component and the polymer component are present in the composite article in a dry weight ratio within the range of 95:5 to 40:60 (e.g., 90:10 to 50:50, or 85:15 to 55:45).

Embodiment 16. The composite article of embodiment 1, wherein the hydrophilic polymer component comprises a plurality of buffering functional groups.

Embodiment 17. The composite article of embodiment 1, wherein the composite article is capable of maintaining the pH of an aqueous solution in contact with the exterior surface within the range of 5 to 9.

Embodiment 18. The composite article of embodiment 1, wherein the exterior surface further comprises a coating comprising one or more active components.

Embodiment 19. The composite article of embodiment 18, wherein the one or more active components are selected from pharmaceutical compounds, proteins, peptides, cells, or a mixture thereof.

Embodiment 20. The composite article of embodiment 1, wherein the composite article is capable of releasing the one or more active components into an aqueous solution in contact with the exterior surface at a rate of at least 1 milligram of active component per hour, per square centimeter of exterior surface.

Embodiment 21. The composite article of embodiment 1, wherein one or more hydrophilic polymers cannot be released into an aqueous solution in contact with the exterior surface.

Embodiment 22. The composite article of embodiment 1, wherein a coefficient of friction of the exterior surface is not greater than about 0.1 or not greater than about 0.075 or not greater than about 0.05 or not greater than about 0.03.

Embodiment 23. The composite article of any one of the previous embodiments, wherein the composite article is in the form of a catheter.

Embodiment 24. The composite article of any one of the previous embodiments, wherein the composite article is in the form of a wound dressing.

Embodiment 25. A method of forming a composite article, wherein the method comprises mixing a thermoplastic elastomer component and a hydrophilic polymer component having a water- absorption capacity of at least 50 wt.% to form a blended precursor mixture; and forming the blended precursor mixture into the composite article, wherein the thermoplastic elastomer component and the hydrophilic polymer component are present in the blended precursor mixture in a dry weight ratio within the range of 99.9:0.1 to 30:70.

Embodiment 26. The method of embodiment 25, wherein the thermoplastic elastomer component comprises copolymer or block polymer, wherein the copolymer of block polymer comprises a polyolefin block, a polyether block, a polyurethane block, a polyamide block, a polyester block, or any combination thereof.

Embodiment 27. The method of embodiment 25, wherein the thermoplastic elastomer component comprises a polyether block amide.

Embodiment 28. The method of embodiment 25, wherein the composite article comprises a thermoplastic elastomer component content of at least about 30 wt.% for a total dry weight of the blended precursor mixture or at least about 35 wt.% or at least about 40 wt.% or at least about 45 wt.% or at least about 50 wt.% or at least about 55 wt.% or at least about 60 wt.% or at least about 65 wt.% or at least about 70 wt.% or at least about 75 wt.% or at least about 80 wt.% or at least about 85 wt.% or at least about 90 wt.% or at least about 95 wt.% or at least about 99.0 wt.% or at least about 99.9 wt.% .

Embodiment 29. The method of embodiment 25, wherein the composite article comprises a thermoplastic elastomer component content of not greater than about 100 wt.% for a total dry weight of the blended precursor mixture or not greater than about 99.9 wt.% or not greater than about 99.0 wt.% or not greater than about 97 wt.% or not greater than about 93 wt.% or not greater than about 90 wt.% or not greater than about 85 wt.% or not greater than about 80 wt.% or not greater than about 75 wt.% or not greater than about 70 wt.% or not greater than about 65 wt.% or not greater than about 60 wt.% or not greater than about 55 wt.% or not greater than about 50 wt.%.

Embodiment 30. The method of embodiment 25, wherein the polymer component comprises a hydrophilic polymer having a water-absorption capacity of at least 75 wt.% or at least about 80 wt.% or at least about 85 wt.% or at least about 90 wt.% or at least about 95 wt.% or at least about 100 wt.%.

Embodiment 31. The method of embodiment 25, wherein the polymer component comprises a polyvinyl alcohol.

Embodiment 32. The method of embodiment 25, wherein the polymer component comprises a polyvinyl pyrrolidone.

Embodiment 33. The method of embodiment 25, wherein the polymer component comprises one or more polysaccharides. Embodiment 34. The method of embodiment 25, wherein the polymer component comprises one or more ionic polysaccharides.

Embodiment 35. The method of embodiment 25, wherein the polymer component comprises one or more polysaccharides selected from starch, alginate, cellulose, hyaluronic acid, chitin, and any derivative thereof.

Embodiment 36. The method of embodiment 25, wherein the polymer component comprises one or more ionically crosslinkable polysaccharides (e.g., a Ca²⁺-cross-linked polysaccharide with carboxylic acid functional groups).

Embodiment 37. The method of embodiment 25, wherein the composite article comprises a hydrophilic polymer component content of at least about 0.1 wt.% for a total dry weight of the blended precursor mixture or at least about 1.0 wt.% or at least about 5 wt.% or at least about 10 wt.% or at least about 15 wt.% or at least about 20 wt.% or at least about 25 wt.% or at least about 30 wt.% or at least about 35 wt.% or at least about 40 wt.% or at least about 45 wt.% or at least about 50 wt.% or at least about 55 wt.% or at least about 60 wt.% or at least about 65 wt.%.

Embodiment 38. The method of embodiment 25, wherein the composite article comprises a polymer component content of not greater than about 70 wt.% for a total dry weight of the blended precursor mixture or not greater than about 65 wt.% or not greater than about 60 wt.% or not greater than about 55 wt.% or not greater than about 50 wt.% or not greater than about 45 wt.% or not greater than about 40 wt.% or not greater than about 35 wt.% or not greater than about 30 wt.% or not greater than about 25 wt.% or not greater than about 20 wt.% or not greater than about 15 wt.% or not greater than about 10 wt.% or not greater than about 5 wt.%.

Embodiment 39. The method of embodiment 25, wherein the blended precursor mixture further comprises a polar organic solvent selected from methanol, ethanol, acetone, or acetonitrile.

Embodiment 40. The method of embodiment 25, wherein the thermoplastic elastomer component and the polymer component are present in the composition in a dry weight ratio within the range of 95:5 to 40:60 (e.g., 90:10 to 50:50, or 85:15 to 55:45).

Embodiment 41. The method of embodiment 25, wherein one or more hydrophilic polymers of the polymer component comprises a plurality of buffering functional groups.

Embodiment 42. The method of embodiment 25, wherein the composite article is capable of maintaining the pH of an aqueous solution in contact with the exterior surface within the range of 5 to 9. Embodiment 43. The method of embodiment 25, wherein the exterior surface further comprises one or more active components.

Embodiment 44. The method of embodiment 25, wherein the method further comprises providing a coating over an outer surface of the composite article, wherein the coating comprises one or more active components, wherein the one or more active components are selected from pharmaceutical compounds, proteins, peptides, cells, or a mixture thereof.

Embodiment 45. The method of embodiment 25, wherein the composite article is capable of releasing the one or more active components into an aqueous solution in contact with the exterior surface at a rate of at least 1 milligram of active component per hour, per square centimeter of exterior surface.

Embodiment 46. The method of embodiment 25, wherein one or more hydrophilic polymers cannot be released into an aqueous solution in contact with the exterior surface.

Embodiment 47. The method of embodiment 25, wherein the hydrophilic polymer component comprises a polysaccharide.

Embodiment 48. The method of embodiment 25, wherein the hydrophilic polymer component comprises an ionic polysaccharide.

Embodiment 49. The method of embodiment 25, wherein the hydrophilic polymer component comprises one or more polysaccharides selected from starch, alginate, cellulose, hyaluronic acid, chitin, and derivatives thereof.

Embodiment 50. The method of embodiment 25, wherein the hydrophilic polymer component comprises a polysaccharide comprising 1,4-a-linked repeat units according to Formula I:

wherein each R¹ is selected from hydroxyl, -OR’, -0C(0)R’, -OR”, and an 1,6-a- linked repeat unit according to Formula I; R and R are each independently selected from hydroxyl, -OR’, -0C(0)R’, and -OR”; each R’ is independently selected from optionally substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, aryl, and heteroaryl; and each R’ ’ is independently selected from nitrate, sulfate, and phosphate. Embodiment 51. The method of embodiment 25, wherein the hydrophilic polymer component comprises a polysaccharide comprising l,4-P-linked repeat units according to Formulas II and III:

wherein each R⁶ is independently selected from -OR’, -0C(0)R’, and -NHR’; R⁷ and R are each independently selected from -OR’, and -0C(0)R’, and -OR”; each R’ is independently selected from optionally substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, aryl, and heteroaryl; and each R” is independently selected from nitrate, sulfate, and phosphate.

Embodiment 52. The method of embodiment 25, wherein the hydrophilic polymer component comprises a polysaccharide comprising l,4-P-linked repeat units according to Formula IV :

wherein R⁹, R¹⁰, and R¹¹ are each independently selected from hydroxyl, -OR’, - 0C(0)R’, and -OR”; each R’ is independently selected from optionally substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, aryl, and heteroaryl; and each R’ is independently selected from nitrate, sulfate, and phosphate. Embodiment 53. The method of embodiment 25, wherein the hydrophilic polymer component comprises a polysaccharide comprising l,4-P-linked repeat units repeat units according to Formula V :

wherein each R 12 is independently selected from hydroxyl, -OR’, -0C(0)R’, -NHR’, -NHC(0)R’, and -OR”; R¹³, R¹⁴, R¹⁵, and R¹⁶ are each independently selected from hydroxyl, -OR’, -0C(0)R’, and -OR”; each R’ is independently selected from optionally substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, aryl, and heteroaryl; and each R’ ’ is independently selected from nitrate, sulfate, and phosphate.

Embodiment 54. The method of embodiment 25, wherein the hydrophilic polymer component comprises one or more ionically crosslinkable polysaccharides (e.g., a Ca²⁺-cross- linked polysaccharide with carboxylic acid functional groups).

Embodiment 55. The method of embodiment 25, wherein the TPE component and the polymer component are present in the composition in a dry weight ratio within the range of 95:5 to 40:60 (e.g., 90:10 to 50:50, or 85:15 to 55:45)

Embodiment 56. The method of embodiment 25, intimately mixing the TPE component and the polymer comprises compounding in a roll mill or a ross mixer, or a brabender, or a compounder that can provide enough shear for mixing, twin-screw extruder.

Embodiment 57. The composite article according to any of embodiments 1-24, made by the method of any of embodiments 25-56.

Note that not all of the activities described above in the general description or the examples are required, that a portion of a specific activity may not be required, and that one or more further activities may be performed in addition to those described. Still further, the order in which activities are listed is not necessarily the order in which they are performed.

Benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have been described above with regard to specific embodiments. However, the benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any feature(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essential feature of any or all the claims.

The specification and illustrations of the embodiments described herein are intended to provide a general understanding of the structure of the various embodiments. The specification and illustrations are not intended to serve as an exhaustive and comprehensive description of all of the elements and features of apparatus and systems that use the structures or methods described herein. Separate embodiments may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment, and conversely, various features that are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any subcombination. Further, reference to values stated in ranges includes each and every value within that range. Many other embodiments may be apparent to skilled artisans only after reading this specification. Other embodiments may be used and derived from the disclosure, such that a structural substitution, logical substitution, or another change may be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, the disclosure is to be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A composite article having a major exterior surface, the composite article comprising a blended composite mixture of a thermoplastic elastomer component and a hydrophilic polymer component having a water- absorption capacity of at least 50 wt.%; wherein the thermoplastic elastomer component and the hydrophilic polymer component are present in the blended composite mixture in a dry weight ratio within the range of 99.9:0.1 to 30:70.

2. The composite article of claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic elastomer component comprises a copolymer or a block polymer, wherein the copolymer or the block polymer comprises a polyolefin block, a polyether block, a polyurethane block, a polyamide block, a polyester block, or any combination thereof.

3. The composite article of claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic elastomer component comprises a polyether block amide.

4. The composite article of claim 1, wherein the composite article comprises a thermoplastic elastomer component content of at least about 30 wt.% for a total dry weight of the blended composite mixture.

5. The composite article of claim 1, wherein the composite article comprises a thermoplastic elastomer component content of not greater than about 100 wt.% for a total dry weight of the blended composite mixture.

6. The composite article of claim 1, wherein the hydrophilic polymer component has a water- absorption capacity of at least about 75 wt.%.

7. The composite article of claim 1, wherein the hydrophilic polymer component comprises a polyvinyl alcohol.

8. The composite article of claim 1, wherein the hydrophilic polymer component comprises a polyvinyl pyrrolidone.

9. The composite article of claim 1, wherein the hydrophilic polymer component comprises one or more polysaccharides.

10. The composite article of claim 1, wherein the composite article comprises a hydrophilic polymer component content of at least about 0.1 wt.% for a total dry weight of the blended composite mixture and not greater than about 70 wt.% for a total dry weight of the blended composite mixture.

11. The composite article of claim 1, wherein the hydrophilic polymer component comprises a plurality of buffering functional groups.

12. The composite article of claim 1, wherein the exterior surface further comprises a coating comprising one or more active components selected from pharmaceutical compounds, proteins, peptides, cells, or a mixture thereof.

13. The composite article of claim 1, wherein a coefficient of friction of the exterior surface is not greater than about 0.1.

14. A method of forming a composite article, wherein the method comprises mixing a thermoplastic elastomer component and a hydrophilic polymer component having a water- absorption capacity of at least 50 wt.% to form a blended precursor mixture; and forming the blended precursor mixture into the composite article, wherein the thermoplastic elastomer component and the hydrophilic polymer component are present in the blended precursor mixture in a dry weight ratio within the range of 99.9:0.1 to 30:70.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the thermoplastic elastomer component comprises copolymer or block polymer, wherein the copolymer of block polymer comprises a polyolefin block, a polyether block, a polyurethane block, a polyamide block, a polyester block, or any combination thereof.