Electrophoretic Deposition of a Hybrid Graphene Oxide/Biomolecule Coating Facilitating Controllable Drug Loading and Release

Abstract

Two-dimensional (2D) graphene oxide (GO) exhibits a high drug loading capacity per unit mass due to its unique structure and hydrophilicity and has been widely researched for drug-delivery systems. Here, we modified the surfaces of metal implants; we applied GO-based coatings that controlled drug loading and release. We used electrophoretic deposition (EPD) to apply the coatings at room temperature. The EPD coatings were analyzed in terms of their components, physical properties such as hardness and hydrophilicity, and in vitro cell tests of their biological properties. Uniform GO-EPD coatings improved surface hydrophilicity and hardness and greatly improved the bone differentiation properties of the metal substrate. Drug loading and release increased greatly compared to when the drug was adsorbed to only the surface of a coating. GO facilitated deposition of a drug-containing coating via EPD, and the surface modification, and drug loading and release, were controlled by the thickness of the coating.