Zn and its alloys are receiving increasing interest for biodegradable orthopedic implant applications owing to their moderate corrosion rate and the potential functionality of Zn2+. However, their non-uniform corrosion behavior and insufficient osteogenic, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties do not meet the comprehensive requirements of orthopedic implants in clinical use. Herein, an aspirin (an acetylsalicylic acid, ASA, 10, 50, 100, and 500 mg/L)-loaded carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC)/gelatin (Gel)-Zn2+ organometallic hydrogel composite coating (CMC/Gel&Zn2+/ASA) was fabricated on a Zn surface via an alternating dip-coating method, aiming to obtain a material with these comprehensive properties improved. The organometallic hydrogel composite coatings, ca. 12-16 μm in thickness, showed compact, homogeneous, and micro-bulge structured surface morphology. The coatings protected well the Zn substrate from pitting/localized corrosion and contained the release of the bioactive components, Zn2+ and ASA, in a sustained and stable manner in long-term in vitro immersions in Hank's solution. The coated Zn showed greater ability to promote proliferation and osteogenic differentiation for MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts, and better anti-inflammatory capacity when compared with uncoated Zn. Additionally, this coating displayed excellent antibacterial activity against both Escherichia coli (>99 % antibacterial rate) and Staphylococcus aureus (>98 % antibacterial rate). Such appealing properties can be attributed to the compositional nature of the coating, namely the sustained release of Zn2+ and ASA, as well as the surface physiochemical properties because of its unique microstructure. This organometallic hydrogel composite coating can be considered a promising option for the surface modification of biodegradable Zn-based orthopedic implants among others.
Keywords: Antibacterial; Biodegradable zinc; Organometallic hydrogel composite coating; Orthopedic implants; Osteogenic.
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