IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICES HAVING COATING LAYERS WITH ANTIMICROBIAL PROPERTIES BASED ON NANOSTRUCTURED HYDROXYAPATITES

摘要

An implantable medical device may include a coating layer that includes a nanostructured hydroxyapatite doped with zinc ions and functionalized with lactoferrin. A process for coating an implantable medical device may include: providing an electrolytic bath; immersing a cathode and an anode in the electrolytic bath, the cathode including the implantable medical device; and allowing direct electric current to pass through the electrolytic bath so as to obtain electrolytic deposition on the implantable medical device of nanostructured hydroxyapatite doped with zinc ions. The electrolytic bath may include calcium ions, phosphate ions, and the zinc ions. The electrolytic bath also may include lactoferrin. The process may further include depositing lactoferrin on the implantable medical device coated with the nanostructured hydroxyapatite doped with the zinc ions.