Structural and antibacterial properties of doped zinc oxide and their composites with hydroxyapatite

Zinc Doped Akermanite: A Promising Biomaterial for Orthopedic Application with Enhanced Bioactivity, Mechanical Strength, and Bacterial Study

Incorporating zinc into biocompatible materials has been identified as a potential strategy for promoting bone regeneration and osteogenic activity during hard tissue regeneration. This work aimed to investigate the impact of zinc doping on the structure of akermanite, which was synthesized using the sol-gel combustion method, with the goal of improving the biological response. Powder XRD and FT-IR analysis confirmed the phase purity and the respective functional groups associated with Zn-doped akermanite. Further XPS analysis confirmed the presence of zinc with the respective binding energies in the akermanite matrix. According to the results obtained from the analysis, the apatite-forming ability of Zn-doped akermanite demonstrated enhanced apatite deposition on the surface of the pellet after 9 days of immersion in the SBF medium. The measured mechanical parameters, including compressive strength (140-189 MPa) and Young's modulus (2505-3599 MPa), fall within the range of human cortical bone. Antimicrobial results showed an improved inhibition rate of the doped ceramics compared to pure akermanite with an inhibition percentage of 87% even at lower concentrations. The hemocompatibility of the materials showed hemolysis of human blood cells within the acceptable range without exhibiting toxicity. Cytotoxicity results demonstrate the biocompatibility of the materials with the MG-63 cell line. Based on the results, akermanite doped with zinc at optimal concentrations was found to be compatible and nontoxic promoting it as a potential alternative for bone regeneration in orthopedic applications.

Evaluation of the Antibacterial and Cell Culture Properties of Anodic Porous Alumina Prepared in Concentrated H2SO4

The antibacterial activity of anodic porous alumina (APA) prepared using phosphoric, oxalic, and sulfuric acids was tested, and it was found that APA prepared using sulfuric acid had the highest antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. In addition, the results of the antibacterial test using APA prepared with different concentrations of sulfuric acid showed that APA prepared in concentrated sulfuric acid exhibited significantly higher antibacterial activity. APA formed in concentrated sulfuric acid also showed excellent antibacterial activity even at a high culture medium concentration, at which bacterial cells tend to multiply easily. Trace amounts of Al and S that leached out to the culture medium from APA prepared in concentrated sulfuric acid did not affect the antibacterial activity of APA, indicating that the APA surface exhibits excellent antibacterial activity. It was shown that the surface of APA prepared in concentrated sulfuric acid had excellent culture properties for fibroblasts while exhibiting antibacterial activity. APA prepared in concentrated sulfuric acid can be used in various applications that require excellent antibacterial activity as well as on surfaces that suppress bacterial growth and selectively cultivate target cells.

Composites of hydroxyapatite and their application in adsorption, medicine and as catalysts

Composites of hydroxyapatite, recognized by its peculiar crystal architecture and distinctive attributes showcased the potential in adsorbing heavy metal ions and radioactive elements as well as selected organic substances. In this paper, the intrinsic mechanism of adsorption by composites hydroxyapatite was proved for the first time. Subsequently, selectivity and competitiveness of composites of hydroxyapatite for a variety of environments containing various interferences from cations, anions, and organic molecules are elucidated. Next, composites of hydroxyapatite were further categorized according to their morphological dimensions. Adsorption properties and intrinsic mechanisms were investigated based on different morphologies. It was shown that although composites of hydroxyapatite were characterized by excellent adsorption capacity and cost-effectiveness, their application is often challenging due to inherent fragility and agglomeration, technical problems required for their handling as well as difficulty in recycling. Finally, to address these issues, the paper discusses the tendency of hydroxyapatite composites to adsorb heavy metal ions and radioactive elements as well as the limitations of their applications. Summarizing the limitations and future directions of modification of HAP in the field of heavy metal ions and different substances contamination abatement, the paper provides insightful perspectives for its gradual improvement and rational application.

Sustainable double-synergistic silver-hydroxyapatite composite catalyst derived from fish bones for efficient disinfection of Vibrio parahaemolyticus

Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a food-borne pathogen that poses a serious threat to seafood safety and human health. An efficient, nontoxic, and sustainable disinfection material with a stable structure is urgently needed. Herein, silver (Ag)-hydroxyapatite (HAP) composite catalysts were prepared using HAP derived from waste fish bones. The Ag2.50%-HAP showed a 100% disinfection rate against V. parahaemolyticus, disinfecting nearly 7.0 lg CFU mL-1 within 15 min at a low concentration of 300 μg mL-1. This efficient disinfection activity could be attributed to the double-synergistic effect of Ag and superoxide radicals, which resulted in the destruction of bacterial cell structures and the leakage of intracellular proteins. Importantly, the composite also exhibited high activity in controlling the growth of pathogens during the storage process of Penaeus vannamei. These findings provided sustainable composite catalysts for disinfecting V. parahaemolyticus in seafood and a high-value utilization strategy for waste fish bones.

Structural and antibacterial studies of novel ZnO and ZnxMn(1-x)O nanostructured titanium scaffolds for biomedical applications

In the biomedical field, the demand for the development of broad-spectrum biomaterials able to inhibit bacterial growth is constantly increasing. Chronic infections represent the most serious and devastating complication related to the use of biomaterials. This is particularly relevant in the orthopaedic field, where infections can lead to implant loosening, arthrodesis, amputations and sometimes death. Antibiotics are the conventional approach for implanted-associated infections, but they have the limitation of increasing antibiotic resistance, a critical worldwide healthcare issue. In this context, the development of anti-infective biomaterials and infection-resistant surfaces can be considered the more effective strategy to prevent the implant colonisation and biofilm formation by bacteria, so reducing the occurrence of implant-associated infections. In the last years, inorganic nanostructures have become extremely appealing for chemical modifications or coatings of Ti surfaces, since they do not generate antibiotic resistance issues and are featured by superior stability, durability, and full compatibility with the sterilization process. In this work, we present a simple, rapid, and cheap chemical nanofunctionalization of titanium (Ti) scaffolds with colloidal ZnO and Mn-doped ZnO nanoparticles (NPs), prepared by a sol-gel method, exhibiting antibacterial activity. ZnO NPs and Zn_xMn_(1-x)O NPs formation with a size around 10-20nm and band gap values of 3.42 eV and 3.38 eV, respectively, have been displayed by characterization studies. UV-Vis, fluorescence, and Raman investigation suggested that Mn ions acting as dopants in the ZnO lattice. Ti scaffolds have been functionalized through dip coating, obtaining ZnO@Ti and Zn_xMn_(1-x)O@Ti biomaterials characterized by a continuous nanostructured film. ZnO@Ti and Zn_xMn_(1-x)O@Ti displayed an enhanced antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Gram-negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) bacterial strains, compared to NPs in solution with better performance of Zn_xMn_(1-x)O@Ti respect to ZnO@Ti. Notably, it has been observed that Zn_xMn_(1-x)O@Ti scaffolds reach a complete eradication for S. aureus and 90 % of reduction for P. aeruginosa. This can be attributed to Zn²⁺ and Mn²⁺ metal ions release (as observed by ICP MS experiments) that is also maintained over time (72 h). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study reported in the literature describing ZnO and Mn-doped ZnO NPs nanofunctionalized Ti scaffolds with improved antibacterial performance, paving the way for the realization of new hybrid implantable devices through a low-cost process, compatible with the biotechnological industrial chain method.