Protruding Nanostructured Surfaces for Antimicrobial and Osteogenic Titanium Implants

Abstract

Protruding nanostructured surfaces have gained increasing interest due to their unique wetting behaviours and more recently their antimicrobial and osteogenic properties. Rapid development in nanofabrication techniques that offer high throughput and versatility on titanium substrate open up the possibility for better orthopaedic and dental implants that deter bacterial colonisation while promoting osteointegration. In this review we present a brief overview of current problems associated with bacterial infection of titanium implants and of efforts to fabricate titanium implants that have both bactericidal and osteogenic properties. All of the proposed mechano-bactericidal mechanisms of protruding nanostructured surfaces are then considered so as to explore the potential advantages and disadvantages of adopting such novel technologies for use in future implant applications. Different nanofabrication methods that can be utilised to fabricate such nanostructured surfaces on titanium substrate are briefly discussed.

Insights into complex nanopillar-bacteria interactions: Roles of nanotopography and bacterial surface proteins

“…Utilising nanopillared surfaces as a novel method to combat bacterial infections on medical devices has gained significant interest in recent years, owing to their ability to kill bacteria without the application of antimicrobial agents. Several models and theories have been proposed to understand such bacteria-substrata interactions [1]- [10]. Many of these are based on the assumption that the antibacterial mechanisms of nanopillared surfaces arise from stretching and rupturing of the bacterial cell envelope.…”

An antibacterial platform based on controllable electro-mechanical interactions at the materials/bacteria interface

“…Generally, antibacterial surfaces can be categorized as leaching ones for planktonic bacteria and non-leaching ones for adhered bacteria by physical interactions 9 . As infections initiate from bacteria adherence on the implant surface 42 and leaching surfaces require replenishment of antibacterial agents with possible systemic side effects such as drug resistance 43 , non-leaching surfaces which kill bacteria upon contact based on physical interactions without exhaustion or disturbance in the distal tissue is becoming more and more prevailing [44][45][46] .…”

Nanoscience-Led Antimicrobial Surface Engineering to Prevent Infections

“…With biofilms containing significant amounts of EPS, combined with the location of the device being largely inaccessible to the immune system, such infections represent a significant clinical challenge. There are various antimicrobial approaches to control or reduce indwelling biomaterial-associated infections (BMIs) using a combination and/or synergistic strategies, ,− which are highlighted in Figure and Table .…”