Biofunctionalization of 3D Printed Porous Tantalum Using a Vancomycin–Carboxymethyl Chitosan Composite Coating to Improve Osteogenesis and Antibiofilm Properties

Abstract

3D-printed porous tantalum scaffold has been increasingly used in arthroplasty due to its bone-matching elastic modulus and good osteoinductive ability. However, the lack of antibacterial ability makes it difficult for tantalum to prevent the occurrence and development of periprosthetic joint infection. The difficulty and high cost of curing periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) and revision surgery limit the further clinical application of tantalum. Therefore, we fabricated vancomycin-loaded porous tantalum scaffolds by combining the chemical grafting of (3-aminopropyl)­triethoxysilane (APTES) and the electrostatic assembly of carboxymethyl chitosan and vancomycin for the first time. Our in vitro experiments show that the scaffold achieves rapid killing of initially adherent bacteria and effectively prevents biofilm formation. In addition, our modification preserves the original excellent structure and biocompatibility of porous tantalum and promotes the generation of mineralized matrix and osteogenesis-related gene expression by mesenchymal stem cells on the surface of scaffolds. Through a rat subcutaneous infection model, the composite bioscaffold shows efficient bacterial clearance and inflammation control in soft tissue and creates an immune microenvironment suitable for tissue repair at an early stage. Combined with the economic friendliness and practicality of its preparation, this scaffold has great clinical application potential in the treatment of periprosthetic joint infection.

Current Advances and Applications of Tantalum Element in Infected Bone Defects

“…Previously, we successfully grafted antituberculosis drugs (isoniazid and rifampicin) using polydopamine and vancomycin using chitosan on the surface of 3D-printed porous Ta . The results indicated that sustained-released antibacterial drugs from both composite scaffolds exhibited excellent bactericidal effects on S. aureus , providing new approaches for bone tuberculosis (Figure F) and periprosthetic joint infection treatment (Figure G) . Some researchers prepared Ta oxide layers containing phosphorus and calcium on the surfaces of porous Ta scaffolds using microarc oxidation technology to mimic a bony chemical composition and tissue morphology; zinc nanoparticles were coated on the oxide film using magnetron sputtering technology for antibacterial functionalization (Figure H) .…”

“…(G) Biofunctionalization of porous Ta via a vancomycin–carboxymethyl chitosan coating. Adapted with permission from ref . Copyright 2022 American Chemical Society.…”

“…Ta scaffolds were coated using the following three main methods: physical adsorption by immersion, − grafting or loading using polymers, ,− and magnetron sputtering technology . Physical adsorption is considered the simplest and most basic method.…”

“…To date, multiple revolutionary biomaterials with antibacterial properties and osseointegration performance have been designed for IBD treatment, including scaffolds derived from bioceramics, , polymers, , biodegradable metals and alloys, , extracellular matrices (ECM), and porous metals. − Among these materials, tantalum (Ta) element-based scaffolds are widely used as load-bearing orthopedic implant materials, especially since the introduction of commercial porous Ta “Trabecular Metal”, manufactured by Zimmer (United States), in the early 21st century. Porous Ta has been widely used in clinical practice due to its excellent biocompatibility, high resistance to corrosion, and low bacterial adhesion.…”

Spatiotemporal Regulation of the Bone Immune Microenvironment via Dam‐Like Biphasic Bionic Periosteum for Bone Regeneration

“…[ 18 ] Carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC), a water‐soluble derivative of chitosan, contains functional amino and carboxyl groups and exhibits good biocompatibility, hydrophilicity, and biodegradability. [ 19 ] In addition, CMC can chelate calcium ions to promote osteogenic activity. [ 20 ] However, simple CMC hydrogels suffer from swelling in water and lacks the necessary organic components of bone tissue.…”