acetate preferred because of their propensity for ease of linkage to the typical polymeric catheter substrates are ethylene propylene styrene and styrene derivatives polymers or oligomers applied using the procedure described below are activated or functionalized with photoactive or radiation active groups to permit reaction of the polymers or oligomers with the underlying polymeric surface suitable activation groups include benzophenone thioxanthone and the like acetophenone and its derivatives specified as str1 where r 1 is h r 2 is oh r 3 is ph or r 1 is h r 2 is an alkoxy group including och 3 oc 2 h 3 r 3 is ph or r 1 u2550 r 2 u2550 an alkoxy group r 3 is ph or r 1 u2550 r 2 u2550 an alkoxy group r 3 is h or r 1 u2550 r 2 u2550 cl r 3 is h or cl the polymeric coating may then be linked with the substrate using known and appropriate techniques selected on the basis of the chosen activators preferably by ultraviolet light but also by heat or ionizing radiation crosslinking or curing with the listed polymers or oligomers may be accomplished by use of peroxides or azo compounds such as acetyl peroxide cumyl peroxide propionyl peroxide benzoyl peroxide or the like a polyfunctional monomer such as divinylbenzene ethylene glycol.