Antibacterial effect of copper-bearing titanium alloy (Ti-Cu) against Streptococcus mutans and Porphyromonas gingivalis

• Published in: Scientific reports Vol. 6; no. 1; p. 29985
• Main Authors: Liu, Rui, Memarzadeh, Kaveh, Chang, Bei, Zhang, Yumei, Ma, Zheng, Allaker, Robert P., Ren, Ling, Yang, Ke
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 26.07.2016; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: 639/301/54/990; 639/301/54/993; Alloys - pharmacology; Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology; Biofilms - drug effects; Cell Adhesion - drug effects; Cell Death - drug effects; Cell Survival - drug effects; Cells, Cultured; Copper - pharmacology; Fluorescence; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial - drug effects; Humanities and Social Sciences; Imaging, Three-Dimensional; Mesenchymal Stem Cells - cytology; Mesenchymal Stem Cells - drug effects; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Models, Biological; multidisciplinary; Porphyromonas gingivalis - drug effects; Porphyromonas gingivalis - genetics; Porphyromonas gingivalis - ultrastructure; Rats; Science; Streptococcus mutans - drug effects; Streptococcus mutans - genetics; Streptococcus mutans - ultrastructure
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/srep29985

Formation of bacterial biofilms on dental implant material surfaces (titanium) may lead to the development of peri-implant diseases influencing the long term success of dental implants. In this study, a novel Cu-bearing titanium alloy (Ti-Cu) was designed and fabricated in order to efficiently kill bacteria and discourage formation of biofilms and then inhibit bacterial infection and prevent implant failure, in comparison with pure Ti. Results from biofilm based gene expression studies, biofilm growth observation, bacterial viability measurements and morphological examination of bacteria, revealed antimicrobial/antibiofilm activities of Ti-Cu alloy against the oral specific bacterial species, Streptococcus mutans and Porphyromonas gingivalis . Proliferation and adhesion assays with mesenchymal stem cells and measurement of the mean daily amount of Cu ion release demonstrated Ti-Cu alloy to be biocompatible. In conclusion, Ti-Cu alloy is a promising dental implant material with antimicrobial/antibiofilm activities and acceptable biocompatibility.