A Universal Nanogel-Based Coating Approach for Medical Implant Materials

Coatings are essential for biomedical applications antifouling and antimicrobial
properties, supporting cell adhesion and tissue integration and particularly
interesting in this field are nanogel (nGel)-based coatings. Since biomaterials
differ in physiochemical properties, specific nGel-coating strategies need to be
developed for every distinct material, leading to complex coating strategies.
Hence, the solution lies in adopting a universal strategy to apply the same nGel
coating with the same function on a wide range of implant surfaces. To this end, a
universal nGel-based coating approach provides the same coating using a single
method on implant materials including stiff polymer materials, metals, ceramics,
glass, and elastomers. The coating formation is achieved by electrostatic interactions
between oxygen plasma–activated surfaces and positively charged nGels
using a spray-deposition method. Fluorescent labels are introduced into the
nGels as a model for post-modification capabilities to increase the functionality of
the coating. The coating is highly stable under in vitro physiological conditions
with the retention of its function on different clinically relevant materials.
Meanwhile, the in vivo study indicates that the nGel coating on a polyvinylidene
fluoride hernia mesh is stable and biocompatible, therefore, making the coating
and the coating strategy, a highly impactful approach for future clinical
developments.