Antibacterial effect of zinc phosphate mineralized guided bone regeneration membranes

Current commercial guided bone regeneration membranes are susceptible to bacterial colonization, leading to premature membrane degradation. The purpose of this research is to modify current resorbable guided bone regeneration membranes with antibacterial property by mineralizing with zinc phosphate.

Resolut Adapt LT (Gore-Tex; W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc., Flagstaff, AZ), composed of copolymer PGA/TMC, and BioMend Extend (Zimmer Dental, Carlsbad, CA), composed of bovine type 1 collagen, were used. The membranes were mineralized with zinc phosphate. The mineralized membranes were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, inductive coupled plasma, and thermogravimetry. Antibacterial property of zinc phosphate mineralized and nonmineralized membranes were determined using Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans standard strain ATCC 29522.

Scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive system, and Fourier transform infrared identified zinc phosphate in the zinc phosphate mineralized membranes. Zinc phosphate mineralized membranes showed significant reduction in bacterial colony, forming units compared to nonmineralized membranes.

Results of this study suggest that the use of zinc phosphate mineralized membranes can inhibit oral bacterial colonization and prevent inflammation due to membrane exposure. This antibacterial property may help achieve the optimal goal of guided bone regeneration.