Antimicrobial-Loaded Polyacrylamide Hydrogels Supported on Titanium as Reservoir for Local Drug Delivery

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Infectious Diseases
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Device-associated infections are a growing concern due to rising antibiotic resistance.
• Biofilm formation on implants complicates treatment and necessitates novel strategies.
• Current methods for preventing implant contamination are insufficient.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a titanium (Ti) surface coating that inhibits bacterial adhesion, proliferation, and biofilm formation.
• To evaluate the efficacy of polyacrylamide hydrogels loaded with ampicillin (AMP) and/or silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) for antibacterial applications.
• To assess the cytocompatibility and immune response of the modified Ti surfaces.

Main Methods:

• Preparation of polyacrylamide hydrogels loaded with AMP, AgNPs, or both.
• Coating of titanium surfaces with the prepared hydrogels.
• Characterization of coated surfaces using FTIR, contact angle, and AFM.
• Assessment of antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus.
• Evaluation of cytocompatibility using MC3T3-E1 cells and macrophage adhesion using RAW 264.7 cells.

Main Results:

• Hydrogels loaded with AMP and AgNPs demonstrated excellent antibacterial action against Staphylococcus aureus.
• A synergistic antibacterial effect was observed when combining AMP and AgNPs.
• The modified Ti surfaces with hydrogel coatings effectively inhibited bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation.
• The modified surfaces exhibited excellent cytocompatibility and did not induce significant macrophage activation.

Conclusions:

• AMP and AgNP-loaded polyacrylamide hydrogel films on Ti offer an effective solution for creating antibacterial surfaces.
• These coatings provide excellent cytocompatibility and a reduced risk of immune response.
• This approach offers a superior alternative to direct therapeutic agent adsorption, allowing for controlled release and enhanced bacterial killing.