Bioactive coating with clindamycin, VEGF-165, and TGF-β1 for supporting bone tissue regeneration

The growing demand for implantable devices, implants, and plastic surgery is a major factor driving the growth of the global biomaterials market. Both new materials and opportunities to enhance the properties of existing solutions are being explored. One such approach involves coating existing materials with bioactive layers to provide additional functions. In this study, a bioactive coating was developed in an environmentally friendly and cost-effective manner, using polyethylene glycol (PEG), polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), hydroxyapatite (HAp), collagen (COL), and glutathione (GSH). The coating demonstrated the ability to release the antibiotic clindamycin, the vascular endothelial growth factor-165 (VEGF-165), which promotes angiogenesis, and the transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), which provides anti-inflammatory properties. The physicochemical properties of the coating were evaluated, and its <i>in vivo</i> integration with natural bone tissue was assessed using a rat skull bone defect model in adult Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus). It was demonstrated that VEGF-165 and TGF-β1 were released within 24 hours at approximately 30% each, a dose capable of producing a therapeutic effect. The <i>in vivo</i> results suggest that incorporating growth factors into the composite coating significantly promotes mineralization at the site of injury. Our coating has the potential to support bone tissue regeneration through the synergistic effects of proteins; however, further studies are required.