Researchers cite potential of bacteria to improve implants
LINK to Original Article

September 2009

Researchers from the University of Birmingham, England have found promising results in a study of the potential of hydroxyapatite-producing bacteria to build better bone implants.

Professor Lynne Macaskie of the university’s School of Biosciences presented the research findings at the Society for General Microbiology’s meeting this week.

Macaskie and her colleagues discovered that Serratia bacteria cells stick to the surface of implant materials such as titanium alloy, porous glass, polypropylene and polyurethane foam by creating a biofilm layer. The biofilm layer contains biopolymers that serve as an adhesive, according to a press release from the society.

In their experiment, the researchers found that a hydroxyapatite (HA) coating subsequently formed over the surface of the implant materials. For practical application, the HA layer must stick tightly, and the material needs to be dried and heated to destroy the bacteria.

The researchers also discovered that the dried biofilm stuck 20 times more tightly than fresh biofilm. They also found that the adhesion increased when the biofilm was coated with HA, according to the press release.

In addition, they discovered that roughening the implant surface improved the effect of the biofilm.

“The bacteria are destroyed by heating, leaving the HA stuck to the surface with [its] own glue — rather akin to a burnt milk saucepan,” Macaskie said in the release. “We need to do more work actually to turn the materials into materials we can use in biomedicine and the environment. Then, they need to be tested in real life situations with clinical and environmental risks.”

While current implant manufacturing methods involve spraying HA on the device, the researchers noted that the bacteria can facilitate adhesion in hard-to-reach areas that spray-on techniques may miss.

They also noted that bacterial-produced HA nanocrystals are smaller than chemically produced HA nanocrystals and, therefore, have a high mechanical strength, according to the release.

Reference:

www.sgm.ac.uk

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