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Multi-Scale Modification of Metallic Implants With Pore Gradients, Polyelectrolytes and Their Indirect Monitoring In vivo
Published on: July 1, 2013
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Self-defending additively manufactured bone implants bearing silver and copper nanoparticles
I A J van Hengel1, M W A M Tierolf1, V P M Valerio1
1Additive Manufacturing Laboratory, Department of Biomechanical Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands. i.a.j.vanhengel@tudelft.nl.
Journal of Materials Chemistry. B
|December 19, 2019
Summary
New silver and copper nanoparticles on implant surfaces create potent antibacterial defenses against MRSA. This combination reduces silver
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Infectious Disease Research
Background:
- Implant-associated infections (IAI) necessitate novel preventive strategies.
- Silver (Ag) nanoparticles offer antibacterial properties but raise cytotoxicity concerns.
- Developing self-defending implants with intrinsic antibacterial capabilities is a key research area.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the synergistic antibacterial and osteoconductive potential of Ag and copper (Cu) nanoparticles on TiO2-coated Ti-6Al-4V implants.
- To evaluate the efficacy of plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) for biofunctionalizing implants with Ag/Cu nanoparticles.
- To assess the cytotoxicity and cellular response of these modified implants.
Main Methods:
- Additively manufactured Ti-6Al-4V implants were surface-modified using PEO with varying ratios of Ag and/or Cu nanoparticles.
- Characterization included surface morphology, chemical composition, ion release, and reactive oxygen species generation.
- Antibacterial activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was tested in vitro and ex vivo, alongside pre-osteoblastic cell (MC3T3-E1) assays.
Main Results:
- PEO resulted in porous surfaces releasing Ag and Cu ions, generating hydroxyl and methyl radicals.
- A synergistic bactericidal effect between Ag and Cu was observed, allowing a 10-fold reduction in Ag concentration.
- Ag/Cu implants demonstrated potent in vitro and ex vivo antibacterial activity against MRSA, eradicating bacteria in a murine femora model, without cytotoxicity.
Conclusions:
- The synergistic combination of Ag and Cu nanoparticles on PEO-treated TiO2 surfaces provides effective antibacterial properties.
- This approach successfully mitigates the cytotoxicity associated with silver nanoparticles, offering a safer alternative.
- The developed biomaterials show promise for self-defending implants, reducing the risk of implant-associated infections.
