Anti-biofilm activity of lysostaphin-functionalized titanium surfaces against Staphylococcus aureus

Staphylococcus aureus has the ability to adhere to implant surfaces and form biofilms, which are highly resistant to standard antimicrobial treatments. These biofilm infections pose significant risks, particularly for patients with medical implants. This study investigates the covalent attachment of lysostaphin (Lst) to titanium (Ti) surface (Lst-Ti) and it's antibiofilm activities. Lst-Ti surfaces were characterized using energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) confirming successful protein attachment. Biocompatibility was assessed through cell viability tests, revealing minimal hemolytic activity and excellent cytocompatibility. Antimicrobial assays demonstrated that Lst-Ti inhibited S. aureus growth and disrupted established biofilms, including those formed by methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). Scanning electron microscopy further validated the reduction in biofilm formation on the modified surfaces. These results suggest that Lst-Ti surfaces offer a promising strategy for preventing and treating implant-associated biofilm infections. Unlike antibiotic-loaded surfaces, Lst-Ti provides long-term antimicrobial protection without any release Lst protein, reducing the risk of antibiotic resistance and systemic absorption. This approach could enhance patient outcomes by reducing the need for implant removal in infection cases. Future in vivo studies will be necessary to confirm the clinical applicability of this approach.