Inorganic-polymer composite coatings for biomedical devices

Abstract

Medical coatings are now playing key roles in the practical use of biomedical devices. By fabricating coatings, the biocompatibility of the devices would be significantly improved, and their biofunctions would be multiplied. Biomedical devices can thus satisfy the clinical requirements to a better extent with the help of coatings. Polymers and inorganic materials are the most used components in the medical coatings, while they both show limitations. By combining polymers and inorganic materials, researchers can fabricate coatings with the advantages of both components. The inorganic-polymer composite coatings would be much more qualified to enhance biocompatibility and bioactivity of the medical devices, showing great potentials in biomedical applications. In this review, we summarize the inorganic-polymer composite biomedical coatings. We introduce metal and metal oxide-based, carbon-based, ceramic-based, and silica-based composite coatings. We illustrate that what materials were used, how they were designed and fabricated into coatings, and what goals the composite coatings realized. • Surface modification is the most important strategy to improve biomedical materials. • The medical coating is playing a key role in diversified biomedical devices. • The inorganic-polymer composite coatings show great potentials in biomedical applications.