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A Sprayable Polyelectrolyte Coating to Mitigate the Foreign Body Response of Implants
Yu Yan1, Xianchi Zhou1, Zuolong Liu1,2
1MOE Key Laboratory of Macromolecule Synthesis and Functionalization of Ministry of Education, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, P. R. China.
Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids
|March 27, 2025
Summary
Stable polyelectrolyte coatings inhibit the foreign body response (FBR) in biomedical implants. Negatively charged coatings and optimized thickness effectively reduce fibrotic capsule formation, enhancing implant longevity.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Surface Chemistry
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- The foreign body response (FBR) leads to fibrotic capsule formation around biomedical implants, compromising their function.
- Developing strategies to mitigate FBR is crucial for improving implant performance and longevity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a straightforward method for creating stable anti-fibrotic polyelectrolyte coatings on implant surfaces.
- To investigate the impact of surface charge and coating thickness on FBR.
- To assess the potential of ultrasonic spraying for mass-produced implant coatings.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of polyelectrolyte coatings using industrialized ultrasonic spraying.
- Adjustment of coating thickness and surface charge via spraying time and polyelectrolyte ratio.
- Evaluation of the fibrotic response to coated implants with varying surface properties.
Main Results:
- Surface charge significantly influences the FBR, with electronegative coatings being most effective at inhibition.
- Coating thickness beyond 10 μm resulted in thinner fibrotic capsules compared to thinner or nanoscale coatings.
- Ultrasonic spraying enabled the fabrication of stable, tunable polyelectrolyte coatings.
Conclusions:
- Electronegative polyelectrolyte coatings effectively inhibit FBR, outperforming neutral, positive, and uncoated surfaces.
- The developed coating method is simple, versatile, and suitable for mass production.
- This approach holds significant potential for enhancing implant functionality by reducing host responses.
