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Oral Biofilm Formation on Different Materials for Dental Implants
Published on: June 24, 2018
Biofilm formation on nanostructured hydroxyapatite-coated titanium
Emma Westas1, Martin Gillstedt, Jessica Lönn-Stensrud
1Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Applied Chemistry, Chalmers University of Technology, 412 96, Göteborg, Sweden; Nordic Institute of Dental Materials (NIOM as), NO-0805, Oslo, Norway.
Journal of Biomedical Materials Research. Part A
|April 17, 2013
Summary
Nanostructured hydroxyapatite coatings on transcutaneous implants did not affect Staphylococcus epidermidis biofilm formation. Surface shape and chemistry differences had no impact on bacterial adhesion or biofilm development.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Microbiology
Background:
- Biofilm formation on medical implants, particularly transcutaneous ones, frequently leads to implant failure.
- Nanotechnology enables the design of nanotextured implant surfaces, which benefit bone cell growth but have unknown effects on biofilm formation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the shape- and chemical-dependent effects of nanostructured hydroxyapatite (HA) coatings on Staphylococcus epidermidis biofilm formation.
- To compare different nanosized HA particles with varying shapes and calcium-to-phosphate ratios against uncoated titanium surfaces.
Main Methods:
- Utilized safranin staining in a biofilm assay to quantify biofilm biomass.
- Employed confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) to assess bacterial volume.
- Compared three types of nanosized HA particles and uncoated titanium after 6-hour incubation with S. epidermidis.
Main Results:
- No significant difference in biofilm biomass was observed across the tested surfaces after 6 hours.
- Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) image analysis corroborated the biofilm assay findings.
- Bacterial adhesion and biofilm development remained consistent regardless of nanomorphology or chemical composition.
Conclusions:
- The nanomorphology and chemical composition of hydroxyapatite coatings did not influence Staphylococcus epidermidis adhesion or subsequent biofilm formation.
- Current nanostructured HA coatings may not offer a strategy to prevent biofilm formation on transcutaneous implants.

