Establishment of PEEK-Associated Drug Delivery Systems—Limits and Perspectives

Abstract

In order to enhance promising properties of polyethertherketone (PEEK) for biomedical application, we evaluate two different strategies for the provision of PEEK with a drug delivery system at the example of the model drug chlorhexidine diacetate. On one hand we discuss the deposition of a biodegradable polymeric drug-release coating, based on well-established poly(L-lactide) (PLLA), on PEEK and on the other hand the modification of PEEK via sulfonation and its subsequent drug loading. Results are compared to pure PLLA-associated drug delivery systems and limits and perspectives are shown.