Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
8
Nanostructured Selenium - A Novel
Biologically-Inspired Material
for Antibacterial Medical Device
Applications
Qi Wang
1
and Thomas J. Webster
1,2,
*
1
Bioengineering Program, College of Engineering, Northeastern University,
Boston, Massachusetts, USA
2
Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering,
Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Abstract
Biofi lms are a common cause of persistent infections on medical devices as they
are easy to form but hard to treat. The polymeric matrix structure in biofi lms
increases the resistance of bacteria to conventional treatment methods such as
antibiotics. Nanostructured selenium is considered to be a novel material for anti-
bacterial applications. Unlike other metal-based antibacterial materials used in the
healthcare industry (like silver), selenium is a naturally occurring micro-nutrient
needed for a healthy lifestyle, and is recommended at a daily intake of 55
m
g-70
m
g
by the FDA. In human beings, nutrition from selenium is achieved from 25 sele-
noproteins or enzymes with selenocysteine at their active center. Such proteins
are fundamental for our antioxidant defense systems and other processes. This
chapter will discuss studies which have coated nanostructured selenium on vari-
ous materials from medical devices (for example, implants, catheters, prostheses
and so on) to introduce antibacterial properties to the surface, thus preventing
biofi lm formation on those materials. This method is considered as a potential safe
and effective way to reduce bacteria functions leading to medical device infections
without relying on antibiotics. After discussion of such promising research, this
chapter will provide thoughts on the future use of such novel biomimetic sele-
nium materials in medicine.
Keywords:
Selenium nanoparticles, bacterial infections, antibacterial properties,
implant materials
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