Bactericidal effect of silver-reinforced carbon nanotube and hydroxyapatite composites.

Abstract

Bacterial infection remains an important risk factor after orthopedic surgery. The present paper reports the synthesis of hydroxyapatite-silver (HA-Ag) and carbon nanotube-silver (CNT-Ag) composites via spark plasma sintering (SPS) route. The retention of the initial phases after SPS was confirmed by phase analysis using X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. Energy dispersive spectrum analysis showed that Ag was distributed uniformly in the CNT/HA matrix. The breakage of CNTs into spheroid particles at higher temperatures (1700) is attributed to the Rayleigh instability criterion. Mechanical properties (hardness and elastic modulus) of the samples were evaluated using nanoindentation testing. Ag reinforcement resulted in the enhancement of hardness (by ~15%) and elastic modulus (~5%) of HA samples, whereas Ag reinforcement in CNT, Ag addition does not have much effect on hardness (0.3 GPa) and elastic modulus (5 GPa). The antibacterial tests performed using Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus epidermidis showed significant decrease (by ~65-86%) in the number of adhered bacteria in HA/CNT composites reinforced with 5% Ag nanoparticles. Thus, Ag-reinforced HA/CNT can serve as potential antibacterial biocomposites.

• Authors: Mohammad Atif Faiz Afzal, Sushma Kalmodia, Pallavi Kesarwani, Bikramjit Basu, Kantesh Balani
• Journal: Journal of biomaterials applications (J Biomater Appl) Vol. 27 Issue 8 Pg. 967-78 (May 2013) ISSN: 1530-8022 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 22286208 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Anti-Bacterial Agents
• Biocompatible Materials
• Bone Substitutes
• Hydroxyapatites
• Nanotubes, Carbon
• Silver

Topics

• Anti-Bacterial Agents (chemistry)
• Bacterial Adhesion
• Biocompatible Materials (chemistry)
• Bone Substitutes (chemistry)
• Elastic Modulus
• Hardness
• Humans
• Hydroxyapatites (chemistry)
• Materials Testing
• Metal Nanoparticles (chemistry, ultrastructure)
• Microbial Sensitivity Tests
• Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
• Nanocomposites (chemistry, ultrastructure)
• Nanotubes, Carbon (chemistry, ultrastructure)
• Prosthesis-Related Infections (prevention & control)
• Silver
• Spectrum Analysis, Raman
• X-Ray Diffraction