A study on PLGA sustained release icariin/titanium dioxide nanotube composite coating.

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Drug Delivery Systems

Background:

• Icariin, a Chinese medicine compound, exhibits osteoinductive and osteogenic properties beneficial for enhancing implant osseointegration.
• TiO2 nanotubes provide a platform for loading icariin, but their sustained release capacity is limited due to icariin's short half-life.
• Achieving long-term stable drug release is crucial for maximizing the therapeutic benefits of implant coatings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To enhance the sustained release of icariin from TiO2 nanotube composite coatings using poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA).
• To investigate the effects of two PLGA loading methods (overlay and mixing) on the loading capacity and early release profile of the composite coating.
• To evaluate the synergistic effects of PLGA and TiO2 nanotubes on improving osseointegration.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of icariin/TiO2 nanotube composite coatings.
• Loading of PLGA onto the composite coatings using overlay and mixing methods.
• Characterization using scanning electron microscopy and assessment of drug release kinetics.

Main Results:

• PLGA significantly improved both the loading efficiency and sustained release of icariin compared to TiO2 nanotubes alone.
• The overlay method extended drug release to 12 days, while the mixing method extended it to 10 days, compared to 9 days for TiO2 nanotubes.
• Sustained release was primarily observed during the initial rapid release phase.

Conclusions:

• PLGA incorporation effectively enhances the loading and sustained release properties of icariin/TiO2 nanotube composite coatings.
• The overlay method demonstrates a superior sustained release effect for icariin.
• The mixing method exhibits better initial drug loading performance.