ZnO‐Hydroxyapatite‐Coated Ti‐6Al‐4V With Curcumin and Ginger Extract for Load‐Bearing Implants

ABSTRACT There is a rising trend in the number of clinical cases related to bone implantation and bone cancer across the globe due to longer life expectancy, accidents, and sports‐related injuries. In this study, we have used curcumin and ginger extract as alternate osseointegrating agents with in vitro osteosarcoma inhibition potential for load‐bearing, site‐specific delivery after direct incorporation on the plasma‐sprayed ZnO‐doped hydroxyapatite (HA)‐coated Ti‐6Al‐4V. Successful parametric optimization during coating can lead to thickness of 80–150 µm. The in vivo efficacy of this novel localized delivery vehicle for initial‐stage osseointegration is tested with a rat distal femur model. Various histological evaluations with Masson–Goldner, hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), and Sanderson rapid bone staining (SRBS) indicate up to ∼2 times greater new bone formation surrounding the drug‐loaded implants than the control group. The in vitro results indicate that curcumin and ginger extract reduce MG‐63 osteosarcoma cell viability on the implant surface by 11‐fold. The assessment of antibacterial properties against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) shows ∼92% efficacy of the treatment samples. After osteosarcoma surgery, these localized drug delivery vehicles can find applications in load‐bearing defect repair sites.