The medical articles which including the following: (a) a ceramic or metallic region whose surface includes a plurality of depressions, (b) a multilayer coating region including multiple polyelectrolyte layers deposited over the surface of the ceramic or metallic region; and (c) a therapeutic agent disposed beneath or within the multilayer coating region. According to another aspect of the present invention, medical articles are provided, which include: (a) a ceramic or metallic region, (b) a multilayer coating region including multiple polyelectrolyte layers deposited over a surface of the ceramic or metallic region, the multilayer coating region including a plurality of protuberances; and (c) a therapeutic agent disposed within regions beneath the protuberances. Also described herein are methods of making such medical articles, and methods of administering a therapeutic agent to a patent using such medical articles.