1. Biomaterial Research for Orthopaedical Implants

Implants have become an essential part of orthopedics. However, it makes the body vulnerable to infections when “foreign” is implanted into body. And it is also harder to treat infections because the surface of the implants facilitates the formation of microbial biofilm. Use of antibiotics may lead to building-up of microbial resistance to antibiotics. Therefore, there have been an increasing number of research in non-antibiotic antibiofilm, in order to help destruct the biofilm formed on the surface of implants and eliminated infections:

a. Use of titanium alloy without vanadium.According to research, titanium alloy without vanadium will reduce microbial attachments to the implant surface and the formation of biofilm.

b. Anti-biofilm agentsMake use of anti-biofilm agents’ hydrophilicity, high hydration and abundant in ions to reduce microbial attachments and the formation of biofilm.

c. Bioactive material with antibiofilm propertyUse the antibacterial property of metals (e.g. silver and cooper) to prevent microbial attachments

d. Nano-structured biomaterialsMake use of antibacterial property of compounds (e.g. silver or chitosan) to change the surface functionality (e.g. solubility, surface charge, etc.) to prevent microbial attachments

2. Nano-structured TiO₂ layer that enhances cellular histocompatibility and prevents 

microbial attachment.

     Nano texture structure of the biomaterial surface influences wettability, attachment of proteins and attachments of nucleated microbials. Using special chemical surface process can form sponge-like nano texture structure on the surface of titanium alloy which is also known as high density oxide layer. According to some research, nano layer increased attachment of osteoblasts and osteoprogenitor cells, reduced attachment of microbials and prevented formation of biofilm.