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ZnO-Hydroxyapatite-Coated Ti-6Al-4V With Curcumin and Ginger Extract for Load-Bearing Implants.
Arjak Bhattacharjee1, Ujjayan Majumdar1, William S Dernell1
1W. M. Keck Biomedical Materials Research Laboratory, School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA.
Journal of the American Ceramic Society. American Ceramic Society
|May 21, 2026
Summary
This study introduces a novel implant coating using curcumin and ginger extract to enhance bone healing and fight osteosarcoma. The new material significantly boosts new bone formation and reduces cancer cell viability, offering a promising solution for bone repair.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Orthopedic Oncology
- Drug Delivery Systems
Background:
- Increasing incidence of bone defects and cancers necessitates advanced orthopedic solutions.
- Current bone implants face challenges in osseointegration and infection prevention.
- Need for localized therapies to manage bone cancer and promote bone regeneration.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and evaluate a novel drug-eluting implant coating for enhanced osseointegration and osteosarcoma inhibition.
- To investigate the efficacy of curcumin and ginger extract as bioactive agents in a hydroxyapatite-coated titanium implant.
- To assess the in vitro and in vivo performance of the localized drug delivery system.
Main Methods:
- Plasma-sprayed coating of ZnO-doped hydroxyapatite (HA) on Ti-6Al-4V implants.
- Incorporation of curcumin and ginger extract into the HA coating for localized drug delivery.
- In vitro evaluation of osteosarcoma cell viability (MG-63) and antibacterial activity (Staphylococcus aureus).
- In vivo assessment of osseointegration using a rat distal femur model with histological analysis (Masson-Goldner, H&E, SRBS).
Main Results:
- Histological analysis showed up to a 2-fold increase in new bone formation around drug-loaded implants compared to controls.
- In vitro studies demonstrated an 11-fold reduction in osteosarcoma cell viability on the implant surface.
- The treatment exhibited approximately 92% efficacy against Staphylococcus aureus infections.
- Optimized coating thickness achieved was 80-150 μm.
Conclusions:
- The developed curcumin and ginger extract-loaded HA coating shows significant potential as a localized drug delivery system for bone repair and cancer treatment.
- This novel biomaterial enhances osseointegration and possesses potent anti-cancer and antibacterial properties.
- The localized delivery vehicle offers a promising therapeutic strategy for load-bearing bone defect repair following osteosarcoma surgery.
