The surface properties of an implant biomaterial are crucial to its biocompatibility¹. Biocompatibility has been the fundamental requirement for every biomaterial and initially, this refers to the ability of a material to be biologically inert². However, this precondition is no longer sufficient in light of the recent endeavor to extend the utility of biomaterial from being just a replacement tool to bioactive systems capable of tissue engineering. Furthermore, it has been shown that biomaterial-related infection significantly affects tissue integration and vice versa. This means that there is a need for surface design of biomaterial with multifunctional properties that can simultaneously achieve tissue integration and prevent microbial adhesion. The coating of Nanoporous/nanotubular material on the implant is currently been investigated as a solution to achieving this required multifunctionality³. Here we present a strategy for improving the antibacterial properties of zirconia nanotubes by decorating them with silver nanoparticles. Drug release studies from these nanostructures were done to demonstrate its potential as a delivery medium that can in principle be explored to obtain tissue integration and engineering. The modified Zirconia nanotube tested for their antibacterial properties were characterized using SEM; XPS, and ToF - SIMS while the drug release properties were monitored via UV–visible spectrometry. The depth profile image obtained by combining FIB and Tof – SIMS measurements confirmed the loading of the drug along the length of the nanotube. These various modifications illustrate a simplified and effective approach toward optimizing the interface between the host environment and the biomaterial surface to meet the very important criteria of biocompatibility and antibacterial properties.

References:

(1) Hench, L. L.; Paschall, H. A. Histochemical Responses at a Biomaterial’s Interface. J. Biomed. Mater. Res. 1974, 8 (3), 49–64. https://doi.org/10.1002/jbm.820080307.

(2) Todros, S.; Todesco, M.; Bagno, A. Biomaterials and Their Biomedical Applications: From Replacement to Regeneration. Processes 2021, 9 (11). https://doi.org/10.3390/pr9111949.

(3) Raghu, S. N. V.; Hartwich, P.; Patalas, A.; Marczewski, M.; Talar, R.; Pritzel, C.; Killian, M. S. Nanodentistry Aspects Explored towards Nanostructured ZrO2: Immobilizing Zirconium-Oxide Nanotube Coatings onto Zirconia Ceramic Implant Surfaces. Open Ceram. 2023, 14 (September 2022), 100340. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oceram.2023.100340.