Antimicrobial graphene-based coatings for biomedical implant applications
Jesus Romo-Rico,
Richard Bright,
Smriti Murali Krishna,
Krasimir Vasilev,
Jonathan Golledge,
Mohan V. Jacob
Affiliations
Jesus Romo-Rico
Electronics Materials Lab, College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia; Queensland Research Centre for Peripheral Vascular Disease, James Cook University, Australia
Richard Bright
College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia
Smriti Murali Krishna
Queensland Research Centre for Peripheral Vascular Disease, James Cook University, Australia; Atherothrombosis and Vascular Biology, Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne 3004, Australia
Krasimir Vasilev
College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia
Jonathan Golledge
Queensland Research Centre for Peripheral Vascular Disease, James Cook University, Australia; Department of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Townsville University Hospital, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
Mohan V. Jacob
Electronics Materials Lab, College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia; Corresponding author.
Implant-associated infections (IAI) cause significant health issues and healthcare costs. In this research, we deposited graphene (Gr) on a medical-grade cobalt-chromium (CoCr) alloy surface by radiofrequency plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (RF-PECVD) using Origanum vulgare as a precursor material. The deposition of Gr on the CoCr was confirmed using Raman spectroscopy and X-Ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The biocompatibility and antibacterial properties of CoCr-Gr were investigated. CoCr-Gr was biocompatible and promoted cell adhesion and spreading of RAW 267.4 macrophage cells. CoCr-Gr were antibacterial against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and inhibited P. aeruginosa attachment. The results indicate that CoCr-Gr could be used as a potential antibacterial coating material for implantable devices.
