PEG-Coated Titania Nanatubes for Controlled Drug Release

Abstract

Developing coatings on implant surface as drug carriers can reduce organ toxicity and effectively deliver drug locally to the target compared with the oral approach. Titanium dioxide (TiO 2) nanotube has great potential for this application for widely used Ti implants because of its high surface area, ability to promote bone growth, and biocompatibility. However,there are two issues needed to be solved before further advancing TiO 2 nanotubes technology as drug carriers: uncontrolled drug release and poor mechanical properties. PEG by hydrothermal method will load onto titania nanotube arrays coating over the drug-loaded titania nanotube arrays to improve the properties of drug release. The samples were characterized by scanning electronic microscope (SEM). The results show that TNTs modified by PEG-coated possess improved drug release characteristics with reduced burst release (from 89% to 69%) and prolonged drug release (from 9 days to over 15 days). This approach provides an alternative to tailor the surface of TNTs and offer considerable prospects for diverse biomedical applications.