Bioinspired Topographic Surface Modification of Biomaterials

Abstract

Physical surface modification is an approach that has been investigated over the last decade to reduce bacterial adhesion and improve cell attachment to biomaterials. Many techniques have been reported to modify surfaces, including the use of natural sources as inspiration to fabricate topographies on artificial surfaces. Biomimetics is a tool to take advantage of nature to solve human problems. Physical surface modification using animal and vegetal topographies as inspiration to reduce bacterial adhesion and improve cell attachment has been investigated in the last years, and the results have been very promising. However, just a few animal and plant surfaces have been used to modify the surface of biomaterials with these objectives, and only a small number of bacterial species and cell types have been tested. The purpose of this review is to present the most current results on topographic surface modification using animal and plant surfaces as inspiration to modify the surface of biomedical materials with the objective of reducing bacterial adhesion and improving cell behavior.

Antibacterial-Based Hydrogel Coatings and Their Application in the Biomedical Field—A Review

“…Mature strategies have been established for surface modification of inorganic materials, but general methods for polymer surface chemical modification are still lacking due to the relatively low surface inertness and surface energy of polymers. The photografting reaction may introduce surface-active radicals to grow polymer brushes and hydrogel coatings on the surface [41]. In a typical photografting process, the Norrish II type photoinitiator, e.g., benzophenone (BP), is excited to a singlet state (BPS) under irradiation by UV light and is then transformed to a triplet state (BPT) by intersystem crossing.…”

Recent advances in bio-medical implants; mechanical properties, surface modifications and applications

“…Surface properties are important for the successful integration of implant with natural tissues. Some of the surface modification techniques are sputtering, ion implantation, plasma spray coating, nitriding, boriding and carburizing [93]. These surface modifications improve the biocompatibility and shortcomings of implants.…”

Smart dental materials for antimicrobial applications

“…Anti-biofouling surfaces prevent microbial adhesion and biofilm formation and are created by altering the surface topography [ 139 , 140 ]. Some of these topographical changes are inspired by nature, mimicking the architecture of animal skin (i.e., shark, cicada, and dragonfly wings) and vegetal surfaces (i.e., lotus, rose petals) [ 141 ]. For example, Arango-Santander et al (2020) modified the surface of orthodontic archwires, mimicking the surface of Colocasia esculenta leaves resulting in reduced adhesion and colonization of S. mutans compared to unmodified wires [ 142 ] .…”