posted on 2023-03-07, 22:14authored byAlessandra Merlo, Eduardo González-Martínez, Kamal Saad, Mellissa Gomez, Manjot Grewal, Joseph Deering, Liza-Anastasia DiCecco, Zeinab Hosseinidoust, Kyla N. Sask, Jose M. Moran-Mirabal, Kathryn Grandfield
The
prevention of bacterial colonization and the stimulation of
osseointegration are two major requirements for bone-interfacing materials
to reduce the incidence of complications and promote the restoration
of the patient’s health. The present investigation developed
an effective, two-step functionalization of 3D printed scaffolds intended
for bone-interfacing applications using a simple polydopamine (PDA)
dip-coating method followed by the formation of silver nanoparticles
(AgNPs) after a second coating step in silver nitrate. 3D printed
polymeric substrates coated with a ∼20 nm PDA layer and 70
nm diameter AgNPs proved effective in hindering Staphylococcus
aureus biofilm formation, with a 3000–8000-fold reduction
in the number of bacterial colonies formed. The implementation of
porous geometries significantly accelerated osteoblast-like cell growth.
Microscopy characterization further elucidated homogeneity, features,
and penetration of the coating inside the scaffold. A proof-of-concept
coating on titanium substrates attests to the transferability of the
method to other materials, broadening the range of applications both
in and outside the medical sector. The antibacterial efficiency of
the coating is likely to lead to a decrease in the number of bacterial
infections developed after surgery in the presence of these coatings
on prosthetics, thus translating to a reduction in revision surgeries
and improved health outcomes.