Sustained drug release from non-eroding nanoporous templates.

Mechanically robust implants are being used in many different parts of the body for various applications in orthopedics, cardiovascular stents, and defibrillators. However, there are numerous problems to overcome, such as reducing infections, enhancing implant bonding, and preventing restenosis in cardiovascular stents, among others. A central strategy is to incorporate therapeutic agents that can enhance implants and overcome the key problemsmentioned. A popular approach is to incorporate polymer coatings that are loaded with the therapeutic agent. However, in some cases polymers are not themost suitablematerials, suchas incardiovascular stentswhere delamination of the polymer coating can lead to thrombosis. In those situations it is necessary to have a reservoir that does not degrade or erode. Non-eroding nanoporous oxide coatings offer an attractive alternative platform since they are nonerodible and their nanofeatures allow control of the elution profile. Herein, we present the results for the release of a model drug, doxorubicin (Dox), from different non-eroding nanoporous coatings. Detailed studies of drug release from these platforms in the form of anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) and anodic titaniumoxide (ATO)were carriedout. There aremany approaches to sputter metals, such as titanium and aluminum,