A coating composition, in both its uncrosslinked and crosslinked forms,
for use in delivering a medicament from the surface of a medical device
positioned in vivo. Once crosslinked, the coating composition provides a
gel matrix adapted to contain the medicament in a form that permits the
medicament to be released from the matrix in a prolonged, controlled,
predictable and effective manner in vivo. A composition includes a
polyether monomer, such as an alkoxy poly(alkylene glycol), a carboxylic
acid-containing monomer, such as (meth)acrylic acid, a photoderivatized
monomer, and a hydrophilic monomer such as acrylamide.