Reduced bacterial adhesion on zirconium-based bulk metallic glasses by femtosecond laser nanostructuring

Abstract

As high-performing materials, bulk metallic glasses have attracted widespread attention for biomedical applications. Herein, the bacterial adhesion properties of femtosecond laser-nanostructured surfaces of four types of zirconium-based bulk metallic glasses are assessed. Laser-induced periodical surface structures and nanoparticle structures were fabricated by femtosecond laser irradiation under different energy intensities (0.23 and 2.3 J/mm2). Surface topography, roughness, wettability, and surface energy were investigated after femtosecond laser irradiation and the surface bacterial adhesion properties were explored using Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus as respective representatives of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. 4′,6-Diamidino-2-phenylindole fluorescence staining was used to characterize and assess the bacterial surface coverage rate. The in vitro cytotoxicity of polished and laser-nanostructured surfaces was investigated using MC3T3-E cells. The obtained results demonstrate that femtosecond laser surface nanostructuring retained the amorphous structure of zirconium-based bulk metallic glasses and led to an obvious decrease in bacterial adhesion compared with polished surfaces. The inhibition of bacterial adhesion on laser-induced periodical surface structures was greater than on nanostructured surfaces after 24 h of bacterial incubation. In addition, femtosecond laser nanostructuring did not have an apparent effect on the cytotoxicity of zirconium-based bulk metallic glasses.

Bacterial adhesion to biomaterials: What regulates this attachment? A review

“…Nanometric surfaces were inspired by antibacterial activities seen in nature, such as those that occur in lotuses, cicadae, sharks, butterflies, and among others, dragonfly wings [ 35 , 52 ]. Recent studies [ 75 , 76 ] attempt to replicate these patterns by developing surfaces for future application in the biomedical field, such as PMMA surfaces designed as shark skin-patterned [ 75 ], and zirconium-based bulk metallic glasses [ 76 ]. However, this area of research is still in its infancy and further studies are needed before these materials can be used.…”

Improving the Tribological Properties and Biocompatibility of Zr-Based Bulk Metallic Glass for Potential Biomedical Applications

“…An alternative approach is to modify the morphology, chemical composition and microstructure of the surface of Zr-based BMGs. Du and co-researchers [22] successfully reduced E. coli and S. aureus bacterial adhesion on Zr-based BMGs by femtosecond laser surface patterning, whilst having no effect on mammalian cell viability. Haratin et al [23] shown improved surface hardness of (Zr 55 Cu 30 Al 10 Ni 5 ) 98 Er 2 BMG from~600 to~1200HV using gaseous oxidising treatment, in which case a topmost Cu-rich zone formed on the surface oxide.…”

Regulating Morphology and Composition of Laser-Induced Periodic Structures on Titanium Films with Femtosecond Laser Wavelength and Ambient Environment

“…Various theoretical approaches have been applied to explain the LIPSS occurrence, including the scattering-interference mechanism, excitation of surface electromagnetic waves (polaritons, plasmons), counter-propagating surface plasmons, and material reorganization [ 3 , 4 , 5 ]. Although a comprehensive theoretical picture is still in development, LIPSS attract research attention due to the remarkable simplicity and reliability of the single-step technique of patterning the surface with subwavelength periodic features suggesting a wide range of possible applications, such as surface colorization, reflection/transmission tuning, wettability and friction control, security marking, energy storage and solar cells efficiency enhancement, biosensing, living cell growth and adhesion control, and more [ 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 ].…”