In this study, a biomedical coating system consisting of gelatin and chitosan with potential drug-delivery capability has been developed by electrophoretic deposition (EPD). As substrate material, stainless steel was used. To ensure proper coating bonding to the substrate, chitosan was used as a polymer matrix in which gelatin nanospheres were embedded. The amount of ethanol in the EPD suspension was optimized (reduced) in order to allow for the incorporation of ethanol-sensitive growth factors into the coating. Gelatin microspheres were prepared with two different cross-linking degrees (low and high) to tailor their degradation kinetics. The suspension stability was analysed by zeta potential measurements and the coating mechanism was investigated. EPD was confirmed to enable the co-deposition of chitosan and gelatin nanospheres in a single coating step. The achieved layers were analysed regarding their microstructure (light and scanning electron microscopy), wettability, composition and degradation behavior. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.