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Oral Biofilm Formation on Different Materials for Dental Implants
Published on: June 24, 2018
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Bioinspired antibacterial surface for orthopedic and dental implants
Drew T Elliott1,2, Russell J Wiggins3, Rupak Dua1,3
1Department of Chemistry, Hampden-Sydney College, Sydney, Virginia, USA.
Journal of Biomedical Materials Research. Part B, Applied Biomaterials
|November 26, 2020
Summary
Titanium implant surfaces were modified using alkaline hydrothermal treatment (AHT) to create nanostructures. This biomimetic approach significantly reduced bacterial viability, offering a promising strategy for preventing implant infections.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Orthopedic and Dental Implants
Background:
- Bacterial infections are a major cause of orthopedic and dental implant failure.
- Current anti-bacterial strategies like surface modification and antibiotic coatings have limited success.
- Need for novel approaches to enhance implant biocompatibility and prevent infection.
Purpose of the Study:
- To biomimetically engineer titanium (Ti) alloy surfaces at the nanoscale using alkaline hydrothermal treatment (AHT).
- To investigate the anti-bacterial properties of AHT-modified Ti surfaces against common implant-associated bacteria.
- To evaluate the efficacy of nanostructure formation inspired by cicada wing structures.
Main Methods:
- Titanium plates were subjected to alkaline hydrothermal treatment (AHT) for 4 and 8 hours at 230°C.
- Surface morphology was analyzed using electron microscopy to observe nanostructure formation.
- Bacterial viability assays were performed using Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) in static and dynamic environments.
Main Results:
- AHT treatment generated random nano-spikes on Ti surfaces, with heights varying based on treatment duration (4-hr: 250-350 nm; 8-hr: 100-1,250 nm).
- Both 4-hr and 8-hr AHT surfaces showed a statistically significant reduction in viable bacterial cells compared to control surfaces.
- The 8-hr AHT group demonstrated superior bactericidal efficacy, killing 38.97% more S. aureus in static culture and 11.27% more in dynamic culture than the 4-hr AHT group.
Conclusions:
- Nanostructures generated on titanium surfaces via AHT exhibit significant bactericidal properties.
- Biomimetic surface engineering using AHT is a promising strategy for developing next-generation orthopedic and dental implants.
- Alkaline hydrothermal treatment is recommended for enhancing the anti-infective capabilities of metallic implant surfaces.
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