New Optimized Coatings for Implants Reduce Risk of Bacterial Infection

There may be a new technology that could help with orthopaedic and dental implants. Researchers have developed a method of selection of new surface treatment process for these implants that could help reduce the risk of infection.

Implants are commonly made from metals such as titanium alloys. These materials are made porous during processing used to prepare them for medical use. While this is important to ensure good contact between the implant and the bone, it also allows dangerous bacteria to adhere and grow both on the surface as well as inside the implant. This can lead to an increased risk of infection.

"Our work has focused on developing an analysis of surface treatments for commercial implants which reduces risk of infection," said Michael Gasik, one of the researchers, in a news release. "What we wanted to do is find a way to avoid the formation of any undesirable products during the processing of the implant. At the same time we needed to make sure that the bio-mechanical properties of the implant would remain intact and, even more, become better."

A thin coating of a biomaterial called Hydroxyapatite (HAP) or bioactive glass (BAG) is usually applied to orthopaedic and other implants in order to alter surface properties. These coatings improve the body's ability to recognize a foreign object in a more friendly way and promote implant integration into surrounding tissues. Yet excessive stresses can cause premature cracking and removal of the coating layer during the heat treatment process. Yet scientists found that by adding another material, they could lessen this risk.

"We have proven that by adding a certain amount of another compound called beta-tricalcium phosphate, such stresses are reduced and therefore preserves the biomaterial coating better," said Gasik in a news release.

The findings reveal that researchers can minimize the risk of coating destruction and bacterial adhesion. This, in particular, could help aid the battle against the spread of drug resistant bacteria and could help patients receiving implants far into the future.