Agglomeration controllable reprecipitation method using solvent mixture for synthesizing conductive polymer nanoparticles

Surface Multifunctionalization of Inert Ceramic Implants by Calcium Phosphate Biomimetic Coating Doped with Nanoparticles Encapsulating Antibiotics

Aseptic loosening and periprosthetic infections are complications that can occur at the interface between inert ceramic implants and natural body tissues. Therefore, the need for novel materials with antibacterial properties to prevent implant-related infection is evident. This study proposes multifunctionalizing the inert ceramic implant surface by biomimetic calcium phosphate (CaP) coating decorated with antibiotic-loaded nanoparticles for bioactivity enhancement and antibacterial effect. This study aimed to coat zirconium dioxide (ZrO₂) substrates with a bioactive CaP-layer containing drug-loaded degradable polymer nanoparticles (NPs). The NPs were loaded with two antibiotics, gentamicin or bacitracin. The immobilization of NPs happened by two deposition methods: coprecipitation and drop-casting. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and cross-section analyses were used to characterize the coatings. MG-63 osteoblast-like cells and human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSC) were chosen for in vitro tests. Antibacterial activity was assessed with S. aureus and E. coli. The coprecipitation method allowed for a favorable homogeneous distribution of the NPs within the CaP coating. The CaP coating was constituted of hydroxyapatite and octacalcium phosphate; its thickness was 3.8 ± 1 μm with cavities of around 1 μm suitable for hosting NPs with a size of 200 nm. Antibiotics were released from the coatings in a controlled manner for 1 month. The cell culture study has confirmed the excellent behavior of the coprecipitated coating, showing cytocompatibility and a homogeneous distribution of the cells on the coated surfaces. The increase in alkaline phosphatase activity showed osteogenic differentiation. The materials were found to inhibit the growth of bacteria. Newly developed coatings with antibacterial and bioactive properties are promising candidates to prevent peri-implant infectious bone diseases.

Synthesis of Fe3O4/Ag nanohybrid ferrofluids and their applications as antimicrobial and antifibrotic agents

To date, the search for creating stable ferrofluids with excellent properties for biomedical application is one of the challenging scientific and practical investigations. In this study, novel Fe3O4/Ag nanohybrid ferrofluids from iron sand were synthesized using a double-layer method. The Fe3O4/Ag nanocomposites exhibited stable crystallite sizes of 11.8 12.1 nm and 36.8-37.2 nm for Fe3O4 and Ag, respectively. The lattice parameters of the spinel structure Fe3O4 and face-centered cubic Ag were respectively 8.344 Å and 4.091 Å. With increasing Ag amount, the crystallite phase of Ag in the nanocomposites increased from 40.2% to 77.2%. The XPS results confirmed that Fe3O4/Ag nanocomposites were successfully prepared, where Fe3O4 mixed well with Ag via strong ionic bonding. The FTIR results confirmed the presence of Fe3O4/Ag, oleic acid, and dimethyl sulfoxide as the filler, first layer, and second layer, respectively. The as-prepared ferrofluids exhibited superparamagnetic behavior, where the saturation magnetization decreased with increasing Ag content. The Fe3O4/Ag nanohybrid ferrofluids exhibited excellent antimicrobial performance against Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans. More importantly, the Fe3O4/Ag nanohybrid ferrofluids decreased the progression of liver fibrosis-related inflammation and fibrogenic activity on hepatic stellate cells.