Multifunctional antibacterial chitosan-based hydrogel coatings on Ti6Al4V biomaterial for biomedical implant applications

• Published in: International journal of biological macromolecules Vol. 231; p. 123328
• Main Authors: Andrade del Olmo, Jon, Pérez-Álvarez, Leyre, Sáez Martínez, Virginia, Benito Cid, Sandra, Ruiz-Rubio, Leire, Pérez González, Raúl, Vilas-Vilela, José Luis, Alonso, José María
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 15.03.2023
• Subjects: Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology; Chitosan; Chitosan - pharmacology; Coated Materials, Biocompatible - pharmacology; Drug delivery; Escherichia coli; Hydrogel coatings; Hydrogels - pharmacology; In vivo biocompatibility; Multifunctional antibacterial activity; Staphylococcus aureus; Ti6Al4V implants; Titanium - pharmacology; Drug delivery; Hydrogel coatings; Chitosan; Multifunctional antibacterial activity; Ti6Al4V implants; In vivo biocompatibility
• ISSN: 0141-8130; 1879-0003
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.123328

Among biomedical community, great efforts have been realized to develop antibacterial coatings that avoid implant-associated infections. To date, conventional mono-functional antibacterial strategies have not been effective enough for successful long-term implantations. Consequently, researchers have recently focused their attention on novel bifunctional or multifunctional antibacterial coatings, in which two or more antibacterial mechanisms interact synergistically. Thus, in this work different chitosan-based (CHI) hydrogel coatings were created on Ti6Al4V surface using genipin (Ti-CHIGP) and polyethylene glycol (Ti-CHIPEG) crosslinking agents. Hydrogel coatings demonstrated an exceptional in vivo biocompatibility plus a remarkable ability to promote cell proliferation and differentiation. Lastly, hydrogel coatings demonstrated an outstanding bacteria-repelling (17–28 % of S. aureus and 33–43 % of E. coli repelled) and contact killing (186–222 % of S. aureus and 72–83 % of E. coli damaged) ability. Such bifunctional antibacterial activity could be further improved by the controlled release of drugs resulting in powerful multifunctional antibacterial coatings. •CHI hydrogel coatings were developed to achieve long-term implantable biomaterials.•Hydrogel coatings exhibited a bifunctional antibacterial activity (repel + kill).•Drug loaded hydrogel coatings synergistically combine three antibacterial mechanisms.