Table 2.

Summary of the advantages and limitations of each primary classification of antimicrobial device coatings.

Classification of coating	Advantages	Limitations
Affinity-based antibiotic-loaded CD coating	-Long-term and controlled antimicrobial activity -Broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity -Antibacterial activity comparable to many non-drug-eluting coatings -Ability to load antibiotics into CD through mature biofilm	-Relies on use of antibiotic to inhibit formation of biofilm -Long-term antibiotic use can lead to development of drug-resistant bacteria -Downstream tissue toxicities from antibiotic use
Intrinsic antimicrobial metallic coating	-Reduce risk of developing drug-resistant bacteria -Long-term antimicrobial activity -Can be tailored for broad-spectrum activity -Can be customized to promote osseointegration	-Coatings leach metal ions continuously throughout body -In high concentrations, metal ions are cytotoxic -Metal nanoparticles can accumulate in tissue and cause long-term oxidative damage to cells
Intrinsic antimicrobial polymeric coating	-Coatings do not leach any compounds into the body (i.e. metal ions or drugs) -Many are biocompatible -Long-lasting antimicrobial activity -Minimize risk of developing drug-resistant bacteria -Robust coatings -Can be tailored for broad-spectrum activity	-Some varieties simply repel the bacteria from the surface of the material rather than completely eradicating it -New polymers could have compatibility issues