Electrochemical codeposition of sol-gel films on stainless steel: controlling the chemical and physical coating properties of biomedical implants.

The electrochemically assisted codeposition of sol-gel thin films on stainless steel is described. Specifically, electrodeposition of films based on aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTS), and its codeposition with propyltrimethoxysilane (PrTMOS) and phenyltrimethoxysilane (PhTMOS) has been accomplished by applying negative potentials. The latter increases the concentration of hydroxyl ions on the stainless steel surface and thus catalyzes the condensation and deposition of the sol-gel films. The films were characterized by profilometry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), alternating current voltammetry (ACV), goniometry, atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). AFM and SEM analysis of codeposited APTS:PrTMOS films disclosed the structural changes induced by altering the deposition solution composition and the applied potential. Codeposited APTS:PhTMOS did not show any structural differences from their electrodeposited homopolymers, while Nano Scratch Test clearly revealed the changes in the elastic and adhesion properties, suggesting the formation of an APTS:PhTMOS composite. EIS of the films showed good resistance towards penetration of hydrophilic species, such as hexacyanoferrate. ACV measurements of the homo and codeposits showed the decrease of the interfacial capacity as a result of the electrochemical deposition. In essence, controllable sol-gel films with tunable chemical and physical properties based on controlling the combination of the precursors, pH and electrochemical properties can be electrodeposited on conducting surfaces. The application of this approach has been demonstrated by coating a stainless steel coronary stent.

Electropolymerized tricopolymer based on N-pyrrole derivatives as a primer coating for improving the performance of a drug-eluting stent.

The coating of medical implants by polymeric films aims at increasing their biocompatibility as well as providing a durable matrix for the controlled release of a drug. In many cases, the coating is divided into a primer layer, which bridges between the medical implant and the drug-eluting matrix. The primer coating must be very carefully designed in order to provide optimal interactions with the surface of the medical implant and the outer layer. Here we present a simple and versatile approach for designing the primer layer based on electropolymerization of a carefully chosen blend of three different pyrrole derivatives: N-methylpyrrole (N-me), N-(2-carboxyethyl)pyrrole (PPA), and the butyl ester of N-(2-carboxyethyl)pyrrole (BuOPy). The composition and physical properties of the primer layer were studied in detail by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and a nano scratch tester. The latter provides the in-depth analysis of the adhesion and viscoelasticity of the coating. AFM phase imaging reveals a uniform distribution of the three monomers forming rough morphology. This primer layer significantly improved the morphology, stability, and paclitaxel release profile of a paclitaxel-eluting matrix based on methyl and lauryl methacrylates.

Poly(methyl methacrylate) grafting onto stainless steel surfaces: application to drug-eluting stents.

Drug-eluting stents (DESs) have been associated with adverse clinical effects. Moreover, recent publications have shown that the coating of DESs suffers from defects. The purpose of this contribution is to examine a three-step process for surface modification as a means of improving the durability of DESs. In the first step, 4-(2-bromoethyl)benzenediazonium tetrafluoroborate was electrografted onto a stainless steel (SS) stent. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) of the modified stent confirmed the formation of the organic layer. In the second step, methyl methacrylate was polymerized onto the grafted surface by atom-transfer radical polymerization. XPS, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and contact-angle measurements were used to characterize the polymer brushes. The last step involved spray-coating of the stent with a drug-in-polymer matrix [poly(n-butyl methacrylate)/poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate) + paclitaxel]. Scanning electron microscopy confirmed the considerably improved durability of the drug-in-polymer matrix. Bare controls showed greater cracking and delamination of the coating than did the two-step modified stents after incubation under physiological (37 degrees C) and accelerated (60 degrees C) conditions. Finally, paclitaxel controlled release from the modified SS DESs was moderate compared with that of nontreated samples. In conclusion, the proposed method significantly improves the durability of drug-in-polymer matrixes on a SS DESs.

Electrochemical formation and characterization of copolymers based on N-pyrrole derivatives.

Organic coatings based on N-(2-carboxyethyl)pyrrole (PPA) and a butyl ester of PPA (BuOPy) were deposited via electrochemical oxidation. The homo- and copolymers were electropolymerized on glassy carbon and stainless steel in acetonitrile using tetrabutylammonium tetrafluoraborate (Bu4NF4B) as the electrolyte. The mechanism of deposition on stainless steel was studied by chronoamperometry and by the tapping and phase angle imaging modes of atomic force microscopy. The electrochemical properties and growth of the films were investigated by cyclic voltammetry. The composition of the copolymers was determined by reflection-absorption Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. We found that while the hydrophilic monomer PPA undergoes progressive nucleation followed by instantaneous growth the hydrophobic BuOPy nucleates instantaneously. The rate of BuOPy electropolymerization was higher than that of PPA, and the resulting film was thicker yet fluffier. Copolymer films were enriched by BuOPy as compared with the electropolymerization solution, which is attributed to the faster rate of electropolymerization of BuOPy than PPA.