Heliyon (Sep 2023)
Active nanoceramic compound dipped in biopolymers to create composite coating for metallic implant surface
Abstract
Biofunctionalization of an implant using functional ceramics with exceptional electrical characterization, such as BaTiO3 and SrTiO3, has gained considerable attention in creating a composite coating with bio-polymer to activate metal implant surfaces for bone tissue engineering applications and, at the same time, resist bacterial infection. A Ti–Zr alloy sample was created by powder technology, and then a coating was applied using the electrospinning technique. Individually, nanopowders of ceramic compounds such as nBaTiO3 and nSrTiO3 were added to a blend of polycaprolactone and chitosan to create composite solutions that could be converted into a nanofibrous coating layer using the electrospinning technique. The samples were analyzed for their morphology, chemical composition, surface roughness, dielectric constant, and wettability. The techniques employed were SEM, EDS, FTIR, an LCR meter, and a contact angle goniometer. The samples' cytocompatibility was assessed by examining the cell viability, ALP activity, proliferation, and attachment of MC3T3-E1 osteoblast cells on both coated and uncoated sample surfaces.The bacterial resistance assays were conducted against Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus mutans. The findings demonstrate a notable enhancement in the biocompatibility of the coated specimens following a week of cellular cultivation. The composite coating containing piezoelectric BaTiO3 has a dielectric constant Ɛr (16) close to dry human bone at 100HZ frequency. Cell proliferation increases dramatically with time in coated samples, and the improvement approaches 125.16% for (BA1) and 111.38% for (SR1) as compared to uncoated Ti–25Zr sample. Cell viability percentage for the coated samples is compared with bare Ti–25Zr, which has an 80.52 ± 1.97% crucial increase, while (BA1) has 181.63 ± 17.87 and (SR1) 170.09 ± 18.12%. No zone of inhibition was detected in the bacterial resistance test for the uncoated sample, while the samples with composite coating show an adequate and comparable inhibitory zone. The composite nano-fiber has a strong biocompatibility, and the coating process is simple and economical, holding potential for use in orthodontic and orthopedic bone regeneration applications.
