The invention is directed to a composite material, especially a biomedical device,
e.g. an ophthalmic device, preferably a contact lens, with one or more wettable
surfaces capable of holding a continuous layer of aqueous fluid thereon which composite
material comprises a bulk material and a hydrophilic coating characterized in that
the hydrophilic coating consists of a carbohydrate attached covalently to reactive
groups at the surface of the bulk material, either directly or via functional groups
of an oligofunctional compound, said oligofunctional compound in turn having functional
groups being capable of reacting with said reactive groups at the surface of the
bulk material and with the carbohydrate, wherein said reactive groups are either
inherently (a priori) present in the bulk material or wherein said reactive groups
have been attached to the surface of the bulk material by a plasma surface preparation,
as well as to a process of manufacture of such a composite material.
