A medical implant system is described for inhibiting infection associated with a joint prosthesis implant. An inventive system includes an implant body made of a biocompatible material which has a metal component disposed on an external surface of the implant body. A current is allowed to flow to the metal component, stimulating release of metal ions toxic to microbes, such as bacteria, protozoa, fungi, and viruses. One detailed system is completely surgically implantable in the patient such that no part of the system is external to the patient while the system is in use. In addition, externally controlled devices are provided which allow for modulation of implanted components.

A coated implant includes a coating comprising a doped hydroxyapatite portion and an undoped hydroxyapatite portion. The coated implant can be formed by treating a hydroxyapatite coating with a solution comprising a dopant metal.

The invention relates to bioactive surface coatings deposited on selected substrates. Surface nanostructured film coatings deposited on most metal or nonmetal substrates to provide surfaces can be engineered to promote enhanced tissue/cell adhesion. Attached cells, including osteoblasts, fibroblasts and endothelial cells, retain viability and will readily differentiate and proliferate under appropriate conditions. Fibroblasts and endothelial cells exhibit good attachment and growth on most coated substrates, except on nano surfaced structured silicone.

Magnetically driven biocompatible microrobots comprising a porous body having a magnetic layer and a biocompatible layer configured to carry and deliver cells to desired sites are described. Embodiments of microrobots are configured with enhanced cell-loading ability, such as by including a plurality of burr members disposed upon the porous body for configuring the microrobot for enhanced cell-loading. The magnetic layer of embodiments may be provided on some portion or all of a surface of the microrobot for configuring the microrobot to be controlled with an external magnetic field. The biocompatible layer of embodiments may be provided on some portion or all of a surface of the microrobot, possibly coating some or all of the aforementioned magnetic layer, for configuring the microrobot for improved biostability and biocompatibility.

A medical implant system is described for inhibiting infection associated with a joint prosthesis implant. An inventive system includes an implant body made of a biocompatible material which has a metal component disposed on an external surface of the implant body. A current is allowed to flow to the metal component, stimulating release of metal ions toxic to microbes, such as bacteria, protozoa, fungi, and viruses. One detailed system is completely surgically implantable in the patient such that no part of the system is external to the patient while the system is in use. In addition, externally controlled devices are provided which allow for modulation of implanted components.

The invention relates to bioactive surface coatings deposited on selected substrates. Surface nanostructured film coatings deposited on most metal or nonmetal substrates to provide surfaces can be engineered to promote enhanced tissue/cell adhesion. Attached cells, including osteoblasts, fibroblasts and endothelial cells, retain viability and will readily differentiate and proliferate under appropriate conditions. Fibroblasts and endothelial cells exhibit good attachment and growth on most coated substrates, except on nano surfaced structured silicone.