Development of calcification resistant polyurethane via surface modification and drug delivery

Calcification was examined on porous polyurethane incubated in metastable solutions of calcium phosphate and the role of certain antibiotics and ferric ions on the media was evaluated. The ferric ion release from chitosan beads was quantified, and was found to be much higher initially. This was substantially modified with liposome and albumin coatings. It is evident that the presence of certain antibiotics, in the calcium phosphate solutions, variably inhibited polyurethane calcification. Further, the released ferric ions from chitosan beads or the pretreatment of these ions had also inhibited the modulation of calcium crystals at the polyurethane interface. A possibility of low levels of drug combinations are proposed for preventing the polymer induced calcification.