Photoelectrons Sequentially Regulate Antibacterial Activity and Osseointegration of Titanium Implants

• Published in: Advanced materials (Weinheim) Vol. 36; no. 2; pp. e2307756 - n/a
• Main Authors: Tang, Yufei, Wang, Kai, Wu, Bingfeng, Yao, Keyi, Feng, Shuqi, Zhou, Xuemei, Xiang, Lin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.01.2024
• Subjects: Biocompatibility; biofilm eradication; Biofilms; Differentiation (biology); extracellular electron transfer; Gold; Hot electrons; Implantation; Lattice vibration; Nanoparticles; near infrared light; Near infrared radiation; osseointegration; Photoelectrons; Surgery; Surgical implants; Titanium; titanium implants; Titanium oxides; Transplants & implants; upconversion; upconversion; titanium implants; extracellular electron transfer; osseointegration; biofilm eradication; near infrared light
• ISSN: 0935-9648; 1521-4095
• DOI: 10.1002/adma.202307756

Titanium implants are widely used ; however, implantation occasionally fails due to infections during the surgery or poor osseointegration after the surgery. To solve the problem, an intelligent functional surface on titanium implant that can sequentially eradicate bacteria biofilm at the initial period and promote osseointegration at the late period of post‐surgery time is designed. Such surfaces can be excited by near infrared light (NIR), with rare earth nanoparticles to upconvert the NIR light to visible range and adsorb by Au nanoparticles, supported by titanium oxide porous film on titanium implants. Under NIR irradiation, the implant converts the energy of phonon to hot electrons and lattice vibrations, while the former flows directly to the contact substance or partially reacts with the surrounding to generate reactive oxygen species, and the latter leads to the local temperature increase. The biofilm or microbes on the implant surface can be eradicated by NIR treatment in vitro and in vivo. Additionally, the surface exhibits superior biocompatibility for cell survival, adhesion, proliferation, and osteogenic differentiation, which provides the foundation for osseointegration. In vivo implantation experiments demonstrate osseointegration is also promoted. This work thus demonstrates NIR‐generated electrons can sequentially eradicate biofilms and regulate the osteogenic process, providing new solutions to fabricate efficient implant surfaces. The Au‐RE/TiO2 coating of titanium implant can generate electron under near infrared light (NIR) illumination. In vivo and in vitro explorations prove the photoelectron‐responsive titanium implants can sequentially regulate antibacterial activity and osseointegration through upconversion, providing a new solution for those patients with post‐implantation infection and poor osseointegration.