In-silico quest for bactericidal but non-cytotoxic nanopatterns

In-silico quest for bactericidal but non-cytotoxic nanopatterns

Mirzaali, Mohammad J. (TU Delft Biomaterials & Tissue Biomechanics)
Van Dongen, I. C.P. (University Medical Center Utrecht; Student TU Delft)
Tümer, N. (TU Delft Biomaterials & Tissue Biomechanics)
Weinans, Harrie (TU Delft Biomaterials & Tissue Biomechanics; University Medical Center Utrecht)
Amin Yavari, S. (University Medical Center Utrecht)
Zadpoor, A.A. (TU Delft Biomaterials & Tissue Biomechanics)

2018

Nanopillar arrays that are bactericidal but not cytotoxic against the host cells could be used in implantable medical devices to prevent implant-associated infections. It is, however, unclear what heights, widths, interspacing, and shape should be used for the nanopillars to achieve the desired antibacterial effects while not hampering the integration of the device in the body. Here, we present an in-silico approach based on finite element modeling of the interactions between Staphylococcus aureus and nanopatterns on the one hand and osteoblasts and nanopatterns on the other hand to find the best design parameters. We found that while the height of the nanopillars seems to have little impact on the bactericidal behavior, shorter widths and larger interspacings substantially increase the bactericidal effects. The same combination of parameters could, however, also cause cytotoxicity. Our results suggest that a specific combination of height (120 nm), width (50 nm), and interspacing (300 nm) offers the bactericidal effects without cytotoxicity.

finite element modeling
implant-associated infections
nanopattern design
osseointegration

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:366f59c5-13d2-4e20-92aa-23d727846d0b

https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6528/aad9bf

2019-08-28

0957-4484

Nanotechnology, 29 (43)

Accepted Author Manuscript

Institutional Repository

journal article

© 2018 Mohammad J. Mirzaali, I. C.P. Van Dongen, N. Tümer, Harrie Weinans, S. Amin Yavari, A.A. Zadpoor