Enhancement of implant performance through synergistic drug delivery and bioactivity by nanotubular titanium with hydroxyapatite coating

Abstract

Drug-eluting implants are considered to be the best alternative to traditional oral and intravenous administration of drugs. By the method of in vitro implantation of these implants, the major rejection during the initial implantation phase due to infection can be avoided. The present work is deployed to achieve sustained drug release of anodized titanium implants and the electrophoretic deposited nanostructured hydroxyapatite to enhance osseointegration, thereby validating it for dental and orthopedic implant applications. The multilayered structure showed a hierarchical arrangement that serves the multipurpose needs of the implants that include, mechanical supports, structural integrity, and in situ drug delivery. The in vitro drug release evaluated using the alendronate and gentamicin shows sustained release with the release of 92 % and 94 %, respectively. The cell proliferation assays in the presence of the alendronate-loaded bioimplants support enhanced cell adhesion and proliferation with 100 % viability on the HAp coated surface after 72 h of incubation. Similarly, the antibacterial efficacy of gentamicin-loaded implants has been validated against Staphylococcus aureus. The in vitro corrosion characteristics in the presence of simulated body fluid validated the corrosion protection of the coating compared to the uncoated CPTi surface. The bioactivity by in vitro immersion studies indicated that this bioimplant promoted apatite formation, suggesting enhanced bone-bonding potential. These results suggest the potential of the drug elucidating implant surfaces as an application towards dental and orthopedic implants.

Keywords: Anodization; Antibacterial; Bioimplants; EPD; Hydroxyapatite; Osseointegration.