Wickens David J, West Glen, Kelly Peter J, Verran Joanna, Lynch Stephen, Whitehead Kathryn A
School of Healthcare Sciences, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK.
Int J Artif Organs. 2012 Oct;35(10):817-25. doi: 10.5301/ijao.5000156.
During external fixation, temporary implants are used to penetrate the skin, muscle and bone to support severely fractured bones. This creates a biologically critical interface at the site of entry, which potentially allows a risk of infection. The aim of this study, therefore, was to investigate potential antimicrobial nanocomposites to combat infection. Magnetron sputtering was used to produce zirconium nitride/silver nanocomposite coatings, which were prepared at two different silver concentrations of 15.5 at.% and 29.8 at.%. These coatings were characterized for morphology, chemical composition, and antimicrobial activity in comparison to pure zirconium nitride and stainless steel. Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis were used as in vitro test organisms in a range of antimicrobial assays; retention of the bacteria on the surfaces and their survival using LiveDead™ staining; the use of a metabolic redox dye to indicate a contact kill and zone of inhibition assays to indicate leaching of inhibitory silver ions. Antimicrobial tests demonstrated a significant kill when the bacterial cells came in contact with the coatings containing silver at both 15.5 at.% and 29.8 at.%. No inhibitory leaching from the surfaces occurred. These surfaces demonstrate potential for use as antimicrobial fixation pin coatings.
在外部固定过程中，临时植入物用于穿透皮肤、肌肉和骨骼以支撑严重骨折的骨头。这在植入部位形成了一个具有生物学重要性的界面，从而存在感染风险。因此，本研究的目的是研究潜在的抗菌纳米复合材料以对抗感染。采用磁控溅射制备氮化锆/银纳米复合涂层，其在两种不同银浓度（15.5原子%和29.8原子%）下制备。与纯氮化锆和不锈钢相比，对这些涂层的形态、化学成分和抗菌活性进行了表征。在一系列抗菌试验中，金黄色葡萄球菌和表皮葡萄球菌被用作体外测试微生物；使用LiveDead™染色法检测细菌在表面的留存及其存活情况；使用代谢氧化还原染料来表明接触杀灭情况，并通过抑菌圈试验来表明抑制性银离子的浸出情况。抗菌试验表明，当细菌细胞与含15.5原子%和29.8原子%银的涂层接触时，有显著的杀灭效果。表面没有发生抑制性浸出。这些表面显示出用作抗菌固定针涂层的潜力。
