Development of a Nanoporous Antibacterial Surface for Titanium Implants (NANTI)

• Research unit: INNOSUISSE
• Project number: 14293.2;9 PFNM-NM

Short description (German)

Development of a Nanoporous Antibacterial Surface for Titanium Implants by Electrochemical Copper Deposition (NANTI) (Feasibility Study)

Short description (English)

Development of a Nanoporous Antibacterial Surface for Titanium Implants (NANTI)

Abstract (German)

Post-surgery infections taking place immediately or years after orthopaedic and dental surgeries cause serious health problems for patients, often require revision surgeries and have strong economic impact on the public health care systems. Implant surfaces exhibiting antimicrobial properties preventing the bacterial infection are therefore highly desired and would strengthen the product portfolio of KKS in order to stimulate the export business in defiance of the strong Swiss franc. The goal of the feasibility study is to establish and test an electrochemical pulsed field surface modification technique for titanium based implants using nanoclusters of copper embedded into and deposited onto the rough implant surface produced by reverse-pulse electrochemical spark-assisted anodization (RP-SAA). If successful the technology will be used in a follow-up full CTI project to optimize the process parameters to implement the technology towards industrial scale. For a deeper insight into the relationship between surface characteristics and antibacterial effect detailed microbiologic analysis (i.e. antibacterial effects depending on the size and the distribution of the copper nanoclusters) will then be studied.

Abstract (English)

Post-surgery infections taking place immediately or years after orthopaedic and dental surgeries cause serious health problems for patients, often require revision surgeries and have strong economic impact on the public health care systems. Implant surfaces exhibiting antimicrobial properties preventing the bacterial infection are therefore highly desired and would strengthen the product portfolio of KKS in order to stimulate the export business in defiance of the strong Swiss franc. The goal of the feasibility study is to establish and test an electrochemical pulsed field surface modification technique for titanium based implants using nanoclusters of copper embedded into and deposited onto the rough implant surface produced by reverse-pulse electrochemical spark-assisted anodization (RP-SAA). If successful the technology will be used in a follow-up full CTI project to optimize the process parameters to implement the technology towards industrial scale. For a deeper insight into the relationship between surface characteristics and antibacterial effect detailed microbiologic analysis (i.e. antibacterial effects depending on the size and the distribution of the copper nanoclusters) will then be studied.