A rechargeable coating with temporal-sequence antibacterial activity and soft tissue sealing

• Published in: Bioactive materials Vol. 39; pp. 224 - 238
• Main Authors: Wang, Fang, Guan, Shiwei, Xing, Min, Qian, Wenhao, Qiu, Jiajun, Liu, Xuanyong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: China Elsevier B.V 01-09-2024; KeAi Publishing Communications Ltd; KeAi Publishing; KeAi Communications Co., Ltd
• Subjects: Antibacterial; Antibacterial activity; Antiinfectives and antibacterials; Antimicrobial agents; Bacteria; Bacterial infections; Biocompatibility; Cell adhesion & migration; Charge materials; Dental implants; Discharge; Effectiveness; Electron transfer; Fibroblasts; Infections; Medical titanium; Microenvironments; Morphology; Polyimides; Polymerization; Sealing; Skin; Soft tissue sealing; Soft tissues; Titanium; Transcutaneous implants; Transcutaneous implants; Antibacterial; Medical titanium; Polyimides; Soft tissue sealing
• ISSN: 2452-199X; 2097-1192; 2452-199X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2024.05.029

Transcutaneous implants that penetrate through skin or mucosa are susceptible to bacteria invasion and lack proper soft tissue sealing. Traditional antibacterial strategies primarily focus on bacterial eradication, but excessive exposure to bactericidal agents can induce noticeable tissue damage. Herein, a rechargeable model (HPI-Ti) was constructed using perylene polyimide, an aqueous battery material, achieving temporal-sequence regulation of bacterial killing and soft tissue sealing. Charge storage within HPI-Ti is achieved after galvanostatic charge, and chemical discharge is initiated when immersed in physiological environments. During the early discharge stage, post-charging HPI-Ti demonstrates an antibacterial rate of 99.96 ± 0.01 % for 24 h, preventing biofilm formation. Contact-dependent violent electron transfer between bacteria and the material causes bacteria death. In the later discharge stage, the attenuated discharging status creates a gentler electron-transfer micro-environment for fibroblast proliferation. After discharge, the antibacterial activity can be reinstated by recharge against potential reinfection. The antibacterial efficacy and soft tissue compatibility were verified in vivo. These results demonstrate the potential of the charge-transfer-based model in reconciling antibacterial efficacy with tissue compatibility.
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•A rechargeable antibacterial coating on titanium (HPI-Ti) was constructed using perylene polyimide.•The antibacterial effect of HPI-Ti is achieved through charging and can be renewed by repeated charging.•The contact-dependent violent electron transfer between bacteria and the material leads to bacterial death.