An improvement in drug-eluting stents, and method of their making are disclosed. The surface of a metal stent is roughened to have a surface roughness of at least about 20 muin (0.5 mum) and a surface roughness range of between about 300-700 muin (7.5-17.5 mum). The roughened stent surface is covered with a polymer-free coating of a limus drug, to a coating thickness greater than the range of surface roughness of the roughened stent surface.
