A novel coping metal material CoCrCu alloy fabricated by selective laser melting with antimicrobial and antibiofilm properties.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to fabricate a novel coping metal CoCrCu alloy using a selective laser melting (SLM) technique with antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities and to investigate its microstructure, mechanical properties, corrosion resistance and biocompatibility.


METHODS
Novel CoCrCu alloy was fabricated using SLM from a mixture of commercial CoCr based alloy and elemental Cu powders. SLM CoCr without Cu served as control. Antibacterial activity was analyzed using standard antimicrobial tests, and antibiofilm properties were investigated using confocal laser scanning microscope. Cu distribution and microstructure were determined using scanning electron microscope, optical microscopy and X-ray diffraction. Corrosion resistance was evaluated by potential dynamic polarization and biocompatibility measured using an MTT assay.


RESULTS
SLM CoCrCu alloys were found to be bactericidal and able to inhibit biofilm formation. Other factors such as microstructure, mechanical properties, corrosion resistance and biocompatibility were similar to those of SLM CoCr alloys.


CONCLUSIONS
The addition of appropriate amounts of Cu not only maintains normal beneficial properties of CoCr based alloys, but also provides SLM CoCrCu alloys with excellent antibacterial and antibiofilm capabilities. This material has the potential to be used as a coping metal for dental applications.
Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 72 Wenhua Road, Shenyang 110016, China.
Ling
L
Ren
Institute of Dentistry, Barts and The London School of Medicine & Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, Newark Street, London E1 2AT, UK.
Kaveh
K
Memarzadeh
Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 72 Wenhua Road, Shenyang 110016, China.
Shuyuan
S
Zhang
Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 72 Wenhua Road, Shenyang 110016, China.
Ziqing
Z
Sun
Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 72 Wenhua Road, Shenyang 110016, China.
Chunguang
C
Yang
University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield AL10 9AB, UK.
Guogang
G
Ren
Institute of Dentistry, Barts and The London School of Medicine & Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, Newark Street, London E1 2AT, UK. Electronic address: r.p.allaker@qmul.ac.uk.
Robert P
RP
Allaker
Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 72 Wenhua Road, Shenyang 110016, China. Electronic address: kyang@imr.ac.cn.
Ke
K
Yang
D000497:Alloys / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development*; D002857:Chromium / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D003035:Cobalt / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D003300:Copper / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000502:physiology*; D007834:Lasers; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000502:physiology*
D000497:Alloys; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D002857:Chromium; D003035:Cobalt; D003300:Copper
Antibiofilm; Antimicrobial; CoCrCu alloys; Coping metal; Selective laser melting