# Advances and applications in medical coating materials: a comprehensive review

**Authors:** Xinmeng Yang, Xiaoling Yu, Shuiwei Qiu

PMC · DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2026.1760661 · 2026-02-20

## TL;DR

This review explores the latest developments in medical coating materials, their applications, and future directions in healthcare.

## Contribution

The paper provides a comprehensive synthesis of advances in medical coating materials and their clinical applications.

## Key findings

- Medical coatings are increasingly used in implants, wound dressings, and stents due to their biocompatibility and antimicrobial properties.
- Nanotechnology and smart coatings are key technological advances in the field.
- Persistent challenges include long-term biosafety and translation to clinical settings.

## Abstract

This review synthesizes the current state of knowledge on medical-coating materials. Fundamental theories are examined with respect to material taxonomy, physicochemical properties, biocompatibility profiles, and antimicrobial mechanisms. Clinical applications are reviewed for implants, wound dressings, catheters, and endovascular stents. Technological advances are highlighted in nanotechnology, surface-modification strategies, and the development of stimulus-responsive “smart” coatings. The analysis traces the field’s evolution, noting its growing market and clinical adoption, while identifying persistent challenges in long-term biosafety and translation. Future directions are projected toward synergistic modification for multifunctionality, patient-specific designs, and next-generation intelligent systems. By integrating contemporary research, this review aims to inform and guide the future development and clinical application of advanced coating technologies.

## Full-text entities

- **Genes:** IBSP (integrin binding sialoprotein) [NCBI Gene 3381] {aka BNSP, BSP, BSP II, BSP-II, SP-II}, INS (insulin) [NCBI Gene 3630] {aka IDDM, IDDM1, IDDM2, ILPR, IRDN, MODY10}, SPP1 (secreted phosphoprotein 1) [NCBI Gene 6696] {aka BNSP, BSPI, ETA-1, OPN}, CD47 (CD47 molecule) [NCBI Gene 961] {aka IAP, MER6, OA3}, BMP2 (bone morphogenetic protein 2) [NCBI Gene 650] {aka BDA2, BMP2A, SSFSC, SSFSC1}, SIRPA (signal regulatory protein alpha) [NCBI Gene 140885] {aka BIT, CD172A, MFR, MYD-1, MYD1, P84}, ALPP (alkaline phosphatase, placental) [NCBI Gene 250] {aka ALP, PALP, PLAP, PLAP-1}, BGLAP (bone gamma-carboxyglutamate protein) [NCBI Gene 632] {aka BGP, OC, OCN}, EGF (epidermal growth factor) [NCBI Gene 1950] {aka HOMG4, URG}
- **Diseases:** coronary restenosis (MESH:D023903), stent thrombosis (MESH:D013927), inflammation (MESH:D007249), HIT (MESH:C562865), diabetes (MESH:D003920), thrombocytopenia (MESH:D013921), cancer (MESH:D009369), infection (MESH:D007239), cytotoxicity (MESH:D064420), overdose (MESH:D062787)
- **Chemicals:** Zr (MESH:D015040), silicates (MESH:D017640), ibuprofen (MESH:D007052), genipin (MESH:C007834), PAH (-), silicon (MESH:D012825), metal (MESH:D008670), silicon nitride (MESH:C032734), SA (MESH:D000464), everolimus (MESH:D000068338), zinc (MESH:D015032), poly (allylamine hydrochloride) (MESH:C063994), zotarolimus (MESH:C489443), disulfide (MESH:D004220), PTFE (MESH:D011138), RGD (MESH:C047981), doxorubicin (MESH:D004317), SiO2 (MESH:D012822), phosphate (MESH:D010710), Pluronic (MESH:D020442), CS (MESH:D048271), titanium (MESH:D014025), PEG (MESH:D011092), carbon nanotubes (MESH:D037742), polysaccharides (MESH:D011134), carbon (MESH:D002244), sirolimus (MESH:D020123), carbohydrates (MESH:D002241), Polymer (MESH:D011108), Arg- (MESH:D001120), calcium silicate (MESH:C031293), phosphatidylcholine (MESH:D010713), PCL (MESH:C016240), Ti-6Al-4V (MESH:C031462), esters (MESH:D004952), HA (MESH:D017886), hydroxides (MESH:D006878), PGA (MESH:D011100), Titanium dioxide (MESH:C009495), CMC (MESH:D002266), beta-tricalcium phosphate (MESH:C485817), ZnO (MESH:D015034), phospholipid (MESH:D010743), water (MESH:D014867), TCP (MESH:C049563), chlorhexidine digluconate (MESH:C010882), PLA (MESH:C033616), iron (MESH:D007501), copper (MESH:D003300), hydrogen (MESH:D006859), polyurethane (MESH:D011140), heparin (MESH:D006493), chlorhexidine (MESH:D002710), diamond (MESH:D018130), PLGA (MESH:D000077182), glutaraldehyde (MESH:D005976), Ag (MESH:D012834), PNIPAM (MESH:C052970), strontium (MESH:D013324), ROS (MESH:D017382)
- **Species:** Escherichia coli (E. coli, species) [taxon 562], Bacteria Latreille et al. 1825 (Bacteria stick insect, genus) [taxon 629395], Rattus norvegicus (brown rat, species) [taxon 10116], Staphylococcus aureus (species) [taxon 1280], Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606], Enterococcus faecalis (species) [taxon 1351], Klebsiella (genus) [taxon 570], Bacillus (genus) [taxon 55087]

## Figures

5 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12962660/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12962660