China3D printingNet July 10th, researchers from Delft University of Technology have designed and printed porous titanium bone implants with antibacterial properties.
Using a new biological functionalization method called plasma electrolytic oxidation, the team was able to load implants with strontium and silver nanoparticles, thereby eradicating the highly resistant Staphylococcus aureus within 24 hours. Researchers believe that they have discovered that the synergistic antibacterial behavior between strontium and silver may produce a new type of implant that allows patients to maintain a minimum of life.
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3D printingAnd implant biofunctionalization. The picture comes from Delft University of Technology.
Design orthopedic implants
Bone implants are one of the most popular implants in the medical device industry and can be found in millions of people around the world. However, like any other functional device, their service life is also very limited. At the end of its useful life, loosening begins to appear, which is characterized by decreased mobility of the patient and onset of pain and pain.
The ultimate goal of bone implants is to prevent loosening. For this reason, the implant must replace the natural bone tissue so that the surrounding bone grows on the surface of the implant and fuse with it in a process called osteogenesis. Over the years, researchers have tried many methods, including synthesis of new biomaterials, surface biofunctionalization, and even topical delivery of active agents, but this is still a topic of continuous experimentation and discussion.
The porous structure of Ti64 implants. The picture comes from Delft University of Technology.
Strontium and Silver
Considering the ultimate goal and obtaining funding from the engineering department behind it, the team used SLM technology to print a Ti-6Al-4V sample implant. Then, plasma electrolytic oxidation (an electrochemical surface treatment process used to generate oxide coatings) is used to biologically functionalize the surface of the implant with strontium and silver. Here, strontium plays a role in promoting bone growth, while silver has an antibacterial effect. The research team found that both active agents can be released continuously for up to 28 days, and there are almost no Staphylococcus aureus strains after being in contact with the surface for 24 hours.
Interestingly, a very synergistic antibacterial relationship was found between strontium and silver. Although strontium itself does not have any bactericidal properties, in the presence of strontium, a silver ion concentration of 4 to 32 times lower is required to kill the entire bacterial culture. The researchers see their work as an advanced prototype of future orthopedic biomaterials and hope to see their findings be used in the clinic.
SEM image of bacterial clusters on the implant. The picture comes from Delft University of Technology.
The development of antibacterial materials is very common in medical device research.Recently, researchers from Tsinghua University in Beijing3D printingA personalized cervical tissue implant to resist human papillomavirus (HPV). Working under the same premise as the Delft study, the porous structure of the polyurethane implant contains anti-HPV protein, which is quantitatively released to inhibit the growth of HPV.
Elsewhere, materials scientists have developed a polycaprolactone (PCL)-based composite yarn fused with starch that can be used in low-temperature FDM machines. Then the filaments are further functionalized by adding biologically active ingredients, so that they have antibacterial properties that work in a wide temperature range.
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