A medical device having a drug-eluting coating that includes a
pharmaceutical compound or, more generally, a therapeutic material housed
within pores of a zeolite carrier. The zeolite carrier has an open porous
structure with reservoirs for holding the therapeutic material. The
therapeutic material loaded zeolites may be suspended or dispersed within
a bioerodible polymer matrix to provide controlled delivery of the
therapeutic material. Zeolite drug carriers may have enhanced or
optimally engineered pore sizes for a particular therapeutic material and
release profile. Along with a therapeutic material, reservoirs of a
zeolite drug delivery system may include a release agent. The release
agent may be used to entrap the therapeutic material until such time as a
triggering condition is met that prompts the release agent to activate
and thereby release the therapeutic material from the zeolite reservoir.