Polymer-based platforms in drug-eluting stents ͑DESs͒ can cause adverse reactions in patients. Hence, the development of a polymer-free drug delivery platform may reduce adverse reactions to DES. In this study, the use of a polymer-free platform, self-assembled monolayers ͑SAMs͒, is explored for delivering an antiproliferative drug ͓paclitaxel ͑PAT͔͒ from a stent material ͓cobalt-chromium ͑͑Cou Cr͒ alloy͔. Initially, carboxylic acid terminated phosphonic acid SAMs were coated on Cou Cr alloy. Two different doses ͑25 and 100 g / cm 2 ͒ of PAT were coated on SAM coated Cou Cr surfaces using a microdrop deposition method. Also, control experiments were carried out to coat PAT directly on Cou Cr surfaces with no SAM modification. The PAT coated specimens were characterized using the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy ͑FTIR͒, scanning electron microscopy ͑SEM͒, and atomic force microscopy ͑AFM͒. FTIR spectra showed the successful deposition of PAT on SAM coated and control-Cou Cr surfaces. SEM images showed islands of high density PAT crystals on SAM coated surfaces, while low density PAT crystals were observed on control-Cou Cr alloy. AFM images showed molecular distribution of PAT on SAM coated as well as control-Cou Cr alloy surfaces. In vitro drug release studies showed that PAT was released from SAM coated Cou Cr surfaces in a biphasic manner ͑an initial burst release in first 7 days was followed by a slow release for up to 35 days͒, while the PAT was burst released from control-Cou Cr surfaces within 1-3 days. Thus, this study demonstrated the use of SAMs for delivering PAT from Cou Cr alloy surfaces for potential use in drug-eluting stents.