Aim: Additively manufactured (3D printed), stainless steel implants were coated with dexamethasone using gelatin, chondroitin sulfate for use in bone graft surgeries. Materials & methods: The drug and polymers were deposited on the implants with a rough surface using a high precision air brush. The gelatin-chondroitin sulfate layers were cross-linked using glutaraldehyde. Results: The drug content uniformity was within 100 ± 5%, and the thickness of the polymer layer was 410 ± 5.2 μm. The in vitro release studies showed a biphasic pattern with an initial burst release followed by slow release up to 3 days. Conclusion: These results are very promising as the slow release implants can be further tested in vivo in large animals, such as cattle and horses to prevent the inflammatory cascade following surgeries.
Keywords: 3D printing; biodegradable polymers; bone implants; dexamethasone; stainless steel; surface roughness.