A process for fabricating a medical assembly having a medical device at least a portion of which is formed of inorganic material is provided. The medical assembly is suitable for substantially long-term implantation in a host animal. The process includes modifying a surface of the medical device to form a hydrophilic adhesion-promoting surface. The hydrophilic adhesion-promoting surface is coated with an alginate solution comprising alginate and the alginate is reacted with alkaline earth metal cations.