Drug-eluting nanotubes for cellular bioactivity

Abstract

Titanium nanotubes has been known for its multifunctional properties and its benefi ts have been further investigated in the fi eld of biomedical implantations. The mechanism behind the cellular interaction with the nanotubes possessing different diameter has been reported in this chapter. High surface area and surface energy of these nanotubes make it a hydrophilic surface, which enhances the protein adsorption on the surface facilitating the adhesion of the cells to the substrate. Additionally, these nanotubes possess nano-topographical features that provide biomechanical cues for the cells to spread on the surface thereby triggering various intracellular reactions inside the cells allowing their differentiation and proliferation on the surface. Different diameter of the nanotubes allow protein adsorption with respective spacing and depending on the cellular interaction with those proteins, cells either proliferate or differentiate. Its drug reserving capability makes it a suitable surface for implants, which can provide effi cient amount of drug to be delivered at the site of interest. The drug can be loaded based on the patients need and it can include, bone morphogenic protein, anti-infl ammatory drug, or anti-infection drug etc. Additionally, slow and controlled release of drug from the polymer-encapsulated drug has been the current area of research, which supplies the drug in regular interval, has also been discussed in his chapter.