Gallium-Strontium Phosphate Conversion Coatings for Promoting Infection Prevention and Biocompatibility of Magnesium for Orthopedic Applications

Ming Shi Song, Rachel W. Li, Yao Qiu, Si Ming Man, Daniel E. Tuipulotu, Nick Birbilis, Paul N. Smith, Ivan Cole, David L. Kaplan, Xiao Bo Chen*

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    5 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Device-associated infections remain a clinical challenge. The common strategies to prevent bacterial infection are either toxic to healthy mammalian cells and tissue or involve high doses of antibiotics that can prompt long-term negative consequences. An antibiotic-free coating strategy to suppress bacterial growth is presented herein, which concurrently promotes bone cell growth and moderates the dissolution kinetics of resorbable magnesium (Mg) biomaterials. Pure Mg as a model biodegradable material was coated with gallium-doped strontium-phosphate through a chemical conversion process. Gallium was distributed in a gradual manner throughout the strontium-phosphate coating, with a compact structure and a gallium-rich surface. It was demonstrated that the coating protected the underlying Mg parts from significant degradation in minimal essential media at physiological conditions over 9 days. In terms of bacteria culture, the liberated gallium ions from the coatings upon Mg specimens, even though in minute quantities, inhibited the growth of Gram-positiveStaphylococcus aureus, Gram-negative Escherichia coli, andPseudomonas aeruginosa - key pathogens causing infection and early failure of the surgical implantations in orthopedics and trauma. More importantly, the gallium dopants displayed minimal interferences with the strontium-phosphate-based coating which boosted osteoblasts and undermined osteoclasts in in vitro co-cultures. This work provides a new strategy to prevent bacterial infection and control the degradation behavior of Mg-based orthopedic implants, while preserving osteogenic features of the devices.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)2709-2723
    Number of pages15
    JournalACS Biomaterials Science and Engineering
    Volume8
    Issue number6
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 13 Jun 2022

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