Preparation, characterization, and <i>in vitro</i> / <i>vivo</i> evaluation of dexamethasone/poly(ε-caprolactone)-based electrode coatings for cochlear implants
Yanjing Luo, Anning Chen, Muqing Xu, Dongxiu Chen, Jie Tang, Dong Ma, Hongzheng Zhang
Abstract
With dexamethasone as the model drug and polycaprolactone (PCL) as the carrier material, a drug delivery coating for cochlear electrodes was prepared, to control cochlear fibrosis caused by cochlear implantation. A dexamethasone/poly (ε-caprolactone)-based electrode coating was prepared using the impregnation coating method. Preparation parameters were optimized, yielding 1 impregnation instance, impregnation time of 10 s, and PCL concentration of 10%. The coating was characterized in vitro using scanning electron microscopy, a universal machine, high-performance liquid chromatography, and CCK-8. The surface was porous and uniformly thick (average thickness, 48.67 µm)—with good flexibility, long-term slow drug release, and optimal drug concentration—and was biologically safe. The experimental results show that PCL is an ideal controlled-release material for dexamethasone as a drug carrier coating for cochlear implants.