Lidocaine-TiO₂ Composite Coating for Chest Tubes: Modulating Sustained Drug Release, Antiadhesive Performance, and...

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Drug Delivery Systems

Background:

• Chest tubes in cardiothoracic surgery require effective analgesia, anti-adhesion, and infection prevention.
• Existing coatings often fail to meet all critical clinical requirements simultaneously.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a novel dual-layered lidocaine (LDC)-titanium dioxide (TiO2) quantum dot coating for polyurethane chest tubes.
• To assess the coating's efficacy in sustained drug release, protein adhesion inhibition, and antibacterial activity.

Main Methods:

• A dual-layered coating (inner LDC, outer TiO2) was applied to polyurethane surfaces via dip-coating.
• Characterization included scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for coating morphology.
• In vitro assays evaluated drug release kinetics, protein adhesion, and antibacterial efficacy against E. coli and S. aureus.

Main Results:

• The LDC-TiO2 coating exhibited a uniform 4 μm thickness with dispersed quantum dot-sized TiO2.
• Sustained LDC release over 24 hours maintained clinically effective analgesic concentrations (0.14-0.48 mg/mL).
• Protein adhesion was significantly reduced (0.071 mg/cm²) compared to single LDC coating (0.343 mg/cm²).
• Significant bacterial inhibition was observed against E. coli (43.72%) and S. aureus (70.14%).

Conclusions:

• The LDC-TiO2 coating effectively provides sustained lidocaine release, antiadhesive properties, and antibacterial activity.
• The TiO2 layer's hydrophilic and antimicrobial properties enhance coating performance.
• This dual-layered coating shows significant promise for reducing catheter-related infections and improving cardiothoracic surgery outcomes.