Silver-Containing Hydroxyapatite Coating Reduces Biofilm Formation by Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus In Vitro and In Vivo

Biomed Res Int. 2016:2016:8070597. doi: 10.1155/2016/8070597. Epub 2016 Dec 26.

Abstract

Biofilm-producing bacteria are the principal causes of infections associated with orthopaedic implants. We previously reported that silver-containing hydroxyapatite (Ag-HA) coatings exhibit high antibacterial activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). In the present study, we evaluated the effects of Ag-HA coating of implant surfaces on biofilm formation. Titanium disks (14-mm diameter, 1-mm thickness), one surface of which was coated with HA or 0.5%-3.0% Ag-HA with a thermal spraying technique, were used. In vitro, the disks were inoculated with an MRSA suspension containing 4 × 105 CFU and incubated for 1-2 weeks. In vivo, MRSA-inoculated HA and 3% Ag-HA disks (8.8-10.0 × 108 CFU) were implanted subcutaneously on the back of rats for 1-7 days. All disks were subsequently stained with a biofilm dye and observed under a fluorescence microscope, and biofilm coverage rates (BCRs) were calculated. The BCRs on the Ag-HA coating were significantly lower than those on the HA coating at all time points in vitro (p < 0.05). Similar results were observed in vivo (p < 0.001) without argyria. Ag-HA coating reduced biofilm formation by MRSA in vitro and in vivo; therefore, Ag-HA coating might be effective for reducing implant-associated infections.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biofilms / drug effects*
  • Coated Materials, Biocompatible* / chemistry
  • Coated Materials, Biocompatible* / pharmacology
  • Durapatite* / chemistry
  • Durapatite* / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Materials Testing*
  • Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / physiology*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Silver* / chemistry
  • Silver* / pharmacology

Substances

  • Coated Materials, Biocompatible
  • Silver
  • Durapatite