CHITOSAN-GELATIN/BIOACTIVE GENTAMICIN DOPED GLASS PARTICLES SYSTEM FOR COATING TITANIUM ALLOY IMPLANTS

UICICH, FLORENCIA; MERLO, JULIETA L.; PASTORE, JUAN IGNACIO; BALLARRE, JOSEFINA

Mar del Plata

Congreso; XII Latin-American Congress of Artificial Organs and Biomaterials; 2023

INTEMA, LABOATEM

Introduction and objective: Titanium based implants have long been studied and used for applications in bone tissue regeneration, thanks to their outstanding mechanical properties and appropriate biocompatibility. However, many implants struggle with osseointegration and attachment, and can be vulnerable to the development of infections [1]. The aim of this work is to generate and characterize repetitive, adherent, hemocompatible and antibacterial chitosan-gelatin and bioactive glass particles coatings loaded with gentamicin by electrophoretic deposition, for implantation purposes.Methodology: Mesoporous glass particles (MBG) were produced using a sol-gel modified Stöber process and loaded with an ethanol solution with 50 μg/mL of gentamicin sulphate (Ge). Disc-shaped Ti-6Al-4V samples were polished and coated with a solution of 0.5 g/L chitosan, 1 g/L gelatin and 2 g/L MBG-Ge nanoparticles by lectrophoretic deposition (EPD)[2]. “Regular” or “enhanced” stirring and sonication (30 min stir-20 min sonic or 40 min stir - 40 min sonication, respectively) of the solution were assayed before EPD. After EPD, an algorithm based in Digital Image Processing was applied to quantify the cover area. The optimum coatings were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscope (SEM), adhesion tape, antibacterial and hemolysis assays.Results and discussion: Electrophoretic composite coatings of chitosan/gelatin with MBG-Ge particles on Ti6Al4V samples could be successfully done, generating hydrophilic, homogeneous and well adhered films. The MBG-Ge particles act as second phase and are well dispersed on the matrix. With an enhanced stirring and sonication method of the solution, it was possible to obtain a better distribution and cover area of particles in the surface (regular: 45%, enhanced: 76%). The antibacterial effect of the complete coating, attributed to the release and dissolution of the MBG-Ge particles, was evidenced for E.scherichiacoli and Staphylococcus aureusafter 24h of contact. The hemolysis rate should be less than 5% for being considered hemocompatible. Hemolysis rate of Ti6Al4V, Ti6Al4V coated without Ge particles and Ti6Al4V coated with MBG-Ge were 5.1 ± 1.7, 6.5 ± 0.5 and 3.1 ± 0.2%, respectively. These results indicate that the MBG-Ge coating improves the hemocompatibility of the Ti alloy.Conclusions: In this work, an electrophoretic approach to develop an antibacterial coating on titanium substrate was investigated, with the use of chitosan, gelatin, mesoporous bioactive glass particles and gentamicin as components. A good adhesion, particle distribution, antibacterial and hemocompatibility properties were obtained.