Biofilm formation on titanium implants counteracted by grafting gallium and silver ions. Issue 3 (18th July 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cochis, Andrea; Azzimonti, Barbara; Della Valle, Cinzia; Chiesa, Roberto; Arciola, Carla Renata; Rimondini, Lia
• Is Part Of: Journal of biomedical materials research. Volume 103:Issue 3(2015:Mar.)
• Page Start: 1176
• Page End: 1187
• Publication Date: 2014-07-18
• Subjects: Biomedical materials -- Periodicals; 610.28
• DOI: 10.1002/jbm.a.35270
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1549-3296

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>Biofilm‐associated infections remain the leading cause of implant failure. Thanks to its established biocompatibility and biomechanical properties, titanium has become one of the most widely used materials for bone implants. Engineered surface modifications of titanium able to thwart biofilm formation while endowing a safe anchorage to eukaryotic cells are being progressively developed. Here surfaces of disks of commercial grade 2 titanium for bone implant were grafted with gallium and silver ions by <italic>anodic spark deposition</italic>. <italic>Scanning electron microscopy</italic> of the surface morphology and <italic>energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy</italic> were used for characterization. Gallium‐grafted titanium was evaluated in comparison with silver‐grafted titanium for both <italic>in vivo</italic> and <italic>in vitro</italic> antibiofilm properties and for <italic>in vitro</italic> compatibility with human primary gingival fibroblasts. Surface‐modified materials showed: (i) homogeneous porous morphology, with pores of micrometric size; (ii) absence of cytotoxic effects; (iii) ability to support <italic>in vitro</italic> the adhesion and spreading of gingival fibroblasts; and (iv) antibiofilm properties. Although both silver and gallium exhibited <italic>in vitro</italic> strong antibacterial properties, <italic>in vivo</italic> gallium was significantly more effective than silver in reducing number and viability of biofilm bacteria colonies. Gallium‐based treatments represent promising titanium antibiofilm coatings to develop new bone implantable devices for oral, maxillofacial, and orthopedic applications. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 103A: 1176–1187, 2015.</p> </abstract>