Although many noble metals are known for their antibacterial properties against the most common pathogens, such as Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus epidermidis, their effect on healthy cells can be toxic. For this reason, the choice of metals that preserve the antibacterial effect while being biocompatible with health cells is very important. This work aims to validate the effect of gold on the biocompatibility of Au/Ag nanowires, as assessed in our previous study. Polyethylene naphthalate (PEN) was treated with a KrF excimer laser to provide specific laser-induced periodic structures. Then, Au was deposited onto the modified PEN via a vacuum evaporation method. Atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy revealed the dependence of the surface morphology on the incidence angle of the laser beam. A resazurin assay cytotoxicity test confirmed safety against healthy human cells and even cell proliferation was observed after 72 h of incubation. We have obtained satisfactory results, demonstrating that monometallic Au nanowires can be applied in biomedical applications and provide the biocompatibility of bimetallic Au/AgNWs.

• Keywords
• biocompatibility, gold nanowires, laser-treatment, nanocomposites, periodic structures,
• MeSH
• Anti-Bacterial Agents pharmacology   MeSH
• Escherichia coli MeSH
• Lasers MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Naphthalenes MeSH
• Nanowires * chemistry   MeSH
• Polyethylenes MeSH
• Gold chemistry   pharmacology   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Anti-Bacterial Agents MeSH
• Naphthalenes MeSH
• poly(ethylene naphthalate) MeSH Browser
• Polyethylenes MeSH
• Gold MeSH

As inflammation frequently occurs after the implantation of a medical device, biocompatible, antibacterial materials must be used. Polymer-metal nanocomposites are promising materials. Here we prepared enhanced polyethylene naphthalate (PEN) using surface modification techniques and investigated its suitability for biomedical applications. The PEN was modified by a KrF laser forming periodic ripple patterns with specific surface characteristics. Next, Au/Ag nanowires were deposited onto the patterned PEN using vacuum evaporation. Atomic force microscopy confirmed that the surface morphology of the modified PEN changed accordingly with the incidence angle of the laser beam. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy showed that the distribution of the selected metals was dependent on the evaporation technique. Our bimetallic nanowires appear to be promising antibacterial agents due to the presence of antibacterial noble metals. The antibacterial effect of the prepared Au/Ag nanowires against E. coli and S. epidermidis was demonstrated using 24 h incubation with a drop plate test. Moreover, a WST-1 cytotoxicity test that was performed to determine the toxicity of the nanowires showed that the materials could be considered non-toxic. Collectively, these results suggest that prepared Au/Ag nanostructures are effective, biocompatible surface coatings for use in medical devices.

• Keywords
• antibacterial properties, bimetallic nanowires, biocompatibility, nanostructure, polymer, surface modification,
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

The study monitored in vitro early response of connective tissue cells and immunocompetent cells to enosseal implant materials coated by different blood components (serum, activated plasma, and plasma/platelets) to evaluate human osteoblast proliferation and synthetic activity and inflammatory response presented as a cytokine profile of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) under conditions imitating the situation upon implantation. The cells were cultivated on coated Ti-plasma-sprayed (Ti-PS), Ti-etched (Ti-Etch), Ti-hydroxyapatite (Ti-HA), and ZrO2 surfaces. The plasma/platelets coating supported osteoblast proliferation only on osteoconductive Ti-HA and Ti-Etch whereas activated plasma enhanced proliferation on all surfaces. Differentiation (BAP) and IL-8 production remained unchanged or decreased irrespective of the coating and surface; only the serum and plasma/platelets-coated ZrO2 exhibited higher BAP and IL-8 expression. RANKL production increased on serum and activated plasma coatings. PBMCs produced especially cytokines playing role in inflammatory phase of wound healing, that is, IL-6, GRO-α, GRO, ENA-78, IL-8, GM-CSF, EGF, and MCP-1. Cytokine profiles were comparable for all tested surfaces; only ENA-78, IL-8, GM-CSF, and MCP-1 expression depended on materials and coatings. The activated plasma coating led to uniformed surfaces and represented a favorable treatment especially for bioinert Ti-PS and ZrO2 whereas all coatings had no distinctive effect on bioactive Ti-HA and Ti-Etch.

• MeSH
• Coated Materials, Biocompatible adverse effects   chemistry   MeSH
• Cell Line MeSH
• Chemokine CCL2 metabolism   MeSH
• Chemokine CXCL1 metabolism   MeSH
• Chemokine CXCL5 metabolism   MeSH
• Cytokines metabolism   MeSH
• Epidermal Growth Factor metabolism   MeSH
• Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor metabolism   MeSH
• Wound Healing drug effects   MeSH
• Interleukin-6 metabolism   MeSH
• Interleukin-8 metabolism   MeSH
• Leukocytes, Mononuclear drug effects   metabolism   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Osteoblasts drug effects   metabolism   MeSH
• Cell Proliferation drug effects   MeSH
• Titanium adverse effects   chemistry   MeSH
• Inflammation metabolism   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Coated Materials, Biocompatible MeSH
• Chemokine CCL2 MeSH
• Chemokine CXCL1 MeSH
• Chemokine CXCL5 MeSH
• CXCL1 protein, human MeSH Browser
• CXCL5 protein, human MeSH Browser
• Cytokines MeSH
• Epidermal Growth Factor MeSH
• Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor MeSH
• Interleukin-6 MeSH
• Interleukin-8 MeSH
• Titanium MeSH