Long-term small molecule and protein elution from TiO2 nanotubes

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Drug Delivery Systems

Background:

• Controlled drug release is crucial for implantable medical devices.
• Titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanotubes offer tunable properties for biomedical applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the elution kinetics of small molecule drugs (sirolimus, paclitaxel) and a large protein (albumin) from TiO2 nanotubes.
• To assess the bioactivity of eluted drugs.
• To determine the potential of TiO2 nanotubes as a drug-eluting implant coating.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of TiO2 nanotubes with varying dimensions.
• In vitro elution studies using albumin, sirolimus, and paclitaxel.
• Assessment of drug bioactivity through in vitro cell proliferation assays.

Main Results:

• TiO2 nanotubes demonstrated controlled release of small molecules for weeks and large molecules for up to a month.
• Eluted drugs retained bioactivity, inhibiting cell proliferation in vitro.
• Elution kinetics were significantly influenced by nanotube height.

Conclusions:

• TiO2 nanotubes provide a promising platform for controlled drug delivery.
• The dimensions of TiO2 nanotubes, particularly height, are critical for modulating elution profiles.
• These findings support the potential use of TiO2 nanotubes in developing advanced drug-eluting implant coatings.