Strategies to Prevent Bacterial Adhesion on Biomaterials - Biomimetics: Advancing Nanobiomaterials and Tissue Engineering - page 191

7.3 Summary

This chapter discussed some strategies associated with prosthetic infec-
tion. Based on the discussion in this review, four different ways to reduce
prosthetic infection can be summarized. One is the delivery of nanopar-
ticles at the infection site and the second is biomaterial modifi cation, e.g.,
reinforcement of HA with Ag/ZnO/Iron oxide. The third approach is the
treatment of the infected site by the use of external electric fi eld, and the
fourth and last option is the application of external magnetic fi eld on the
bacterial infection. All four approaches are illustrated in Figure 7.27.
A considerable part of this review discussed the development of
HA

based biomaterials with antibacterial properties. It has been cat-
egorically emphasized that the addition of Ag/ZnO to HA needs to be
a tailored compromise between antibacterial and cell viability property.
In other words, the addition of the second phase is to be such that it is
enough to kill bacteria, but not the mammalian cells.
In order to introduce the antibacterial property, oxide nanoparticles like
ZnO, TiO 2 , etc., can be delivered at the optimal dosage, and experimental
evidence points toward the fact that such nanoparticles generate ROS and
kill the infectious cells. As far as magnetic nanoparticles are concerned,
Fe 3 O 4 are used as antibacterial agent as well as drugs for hyperthermia
therapy to kill the cancerous cells. The development of magnetic biocom-
posites/glass ceramics based on HA

−

− Fe 2 O 3 and MBG − Fe, etc., are sug-

gested as potential material for cancer treatment.
As far as the external fi eld application is concerned, the electric fi eld is
found to stimulate the bacterial detachment. Both direct current and block
current of 100 A are capable of detaching the adhered bacteria up to a

reasonable amount (~ 75%).
Contradictory results were found with the use of external magnetic
fi eld on bacterial viability. However, some in vitro experiments suggest the

μ

Nanoparticles treatment via
drug delivery to the
infection site

Glass-ceramics or HA-based
biocomposites with Ag/ZnO/
Iron oxide reinforcements

Strategies to
prevent
bacterial
infection

Electric field treatment at
infected site

Magnetic field treatment
(static/pulse field)

Figure 7.27 Summary of strategies to address prosthetic infection.