Calcium Phosphate Based Coating of Hard tissue implants

Abstract

Implant-associated infections remain a significant challenge in orthopaedic and dental implants because they frequently result in implant failure, higher patient morbidity and significant healthcare costs. One of the primary pathogens responsible for these IAIs is Staphylococcus aureus, known for its potential to make biofilms on the surfaces of implants. Hard tissue implants play a crucial role in modern medicine, facilitating the restoration of damaged or lost tissues and improving the quality of life for millions of patients worldwide. In this research, we propose a novel approach to enhance the antibacterial properties of hard tissue implants by fortifying their surfaces with calciumdoped zinc oxide (Ca-ZnO) nanoparticles through biomimetic calcium phosphate coating. Hydroxyapatites [Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2, Hap] are the main constituents of bones and tissues. Calcium phosphate has been playing a role in human hard tissue bio-engineering because of its high biocompatibility and biodegradability. This study aimed to develop Ca2+-dopedZnO nanoparticles (NPs) and investigate their antibacterial properties against microorganisms like Staphylococcus aureus. Ca/ZnO NPs are synthesized by the coprecipitation method and subsequently characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-vis spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR).Significant enhancement in the antibacterial properties was observed in alkaline and heat treated disc coated with Ca-doped ZnO NPs for 14 days compared to 7 days and discs coated with bare ZnO NPs (Staphylococcus aureus, p=<0.0001).These findings suggest that calcium phosphate-based biomimetic coatings, doped with calcium-doped ZnO NPs show great potential for reducing the risk for implant-associated infections.