Tailoring nanotopography and antibacterial properties of calcium phosphate bone grafts via fluoride incorporation.
Por:
Arca-Garcia C, Godoy-Gallardo M and Ginebra MP
Publicada:
1 may 2026
Ahead of Print:
27 dic 2025
Resumen:
Despite advances in bone graft design and surgical techniques, bacterial infection remains a major cause of graft failure, exacerbated by the global rise in antimicrobial resistance. This has intensified the pursuit of antibiotic-free strategies to prevent bacterial colonization. Among these, antibacterial surface nanotopographies have emerged as promising tools, leveraging nanoscale geometries to physically disrupt bacteria upon contact. In this study, we engineered the surface of a calcium phosphate bone graft to confer antimicrobial functionality through a dual approach: the creation of high-aspect-ratio nanotopographies and ionic doping with fluoride. Through controlled hydrolysis of a-tricalcium phosphate by biomimetic and hydrothermal treatments, we generated calcium deficient hydroxyapatite nanoneedle structures whose morphology and biofunctionality were tuned via fluoride incorporation. XRD and Raman spectroscopy confirmed the formation of hydroxy-fluorapatite, with phase composition and surface morphology dependent on fluoride concentration and processing parameters. Fluoride doping significantly altered nanoneedle dimensions and spacing and enhanced bactericidal activity, particularly against P. aeruginosa, and to a lesser extent S. aureus. Notably, fluoride-doping alone showed no antibacterial effects; however, when combined with nanotopography, a synergistic increase in efficacy was observed. Importantly, the antimicrobial surfaces supported the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of SaOS-2 cells. Co-culture assays modeling pre- and post-implantation infection scenarios demonstrated robust cell adhesion and markedly reduced bacterial colonization. In conclusion, our findings present a multifunctional, synthetic bone graft with both physical and chemical antibacterial properties, offering a promising strategy to mitigate infection risks while supporting osteointegration.
Filiaciones:
Arca-Garcia C:
Biomaterials, Biomechanics and Tissue Engineering Group, Department of Materials Science and Engineering and Institute for Research and Innovation in Health (IRIS), Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya - BarcelonaTech, 08019, Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona Research Center in Multiscale Science and Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya - BarcelonaTech, 08019, Barcelona, Spain
Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red - Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029, Madrid, Spain
Godoy-Gallardo M:
Biomaterials, Biomechanics and Tissue Engineering Group, Department of Materials Science and Engineering and Institute for Research and Innovation in Health (IRIS), Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya - BarcelonaTech, 08019, Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona Research Center in Multiscale Science and Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya - BarcelonaTech, 08019, Barcelona, Spain
Ginebra MP:
Biomaterials, Biomechanics and Tissue Engineering Group, Department of Materials Science and Engineering and Institute for Research and Innovation in Health (IRIS), Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya - BarcelonaTech, 08019, Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona Research Center in Multiscale Science and Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya - BarcelonaTech, 08019, Barcelona, Spain
Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red - Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029, Madrid, Spain
Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), 08028, Barcelona, Spain
Green Submitted, Green Accepted, gold
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