title: Development of Laser-Structured Liquid-Infused Titanium with Strong Biofilm-Repellent Properties.
abstract: Medical implants are commonly used in modern medicine but still harbor the risk of microbial infections caused by bacterial biofilms. As their retrospective treatment is difficult, there is a need for biomedical materials that inhibit bacterial colonization from the start without using antibacterial agents, as these can promote resistance development. The promising concept of slippery liquid-infused porous surfaces (SLIPS) possesses enormous potential for this purpose. In the present study, this principle was applied to titanium, a common material in implantology, and its biofilm-repellent properties were demonstrated. To simplify prospective approval of the medical device and to avoid chemical contamination, surface structuring was performed by ultrashort pulsed laser ablation. Four different structures (hierarchical micro- and nanosized spikes, microsized grooves, nanosized ripples, and unstructured surfaces) and five infusing perfluoropolyethers of different viscosities were screened; the best results were obtained with the biomimetic, hierarchical spike structure combined with lubricants of medium viscosities (20-60 cSt at 37 °C, 143 AZ, and GPL 104). The surfaces exhibited extremely low contact angle hysteresis, as is typical for liquid-infused materials and a reliable 100-fold reduction of human oral pathogen Streptococcus oralis biofilms. This characteristic was maintained after exposure to shear forces and gravity. The titanium SLIPS also inhibited adherence of human fibroblasts and osteoblasts. Toxicity tests supported the explanation that solely the surface's repellent properties are responsible for the vigorous prevention of the adhesion of bacteria and cells. This use of physically structured and liquid-infused titanium to avoid bioadhesion should support the prevention of bacterial implant-associated infections without the use of antibacterial agents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthetic Dentistry and Biomedical Materials Science, Hannover Medical School , Carl-Neuberg-Straße 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Katharina
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4885-9821
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Doll
authors.affiliation: Institute of Quantum Optics, Leibniz University of Hannover , Welfengarten 1, 30167 Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fadeeva
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthetic Dentistry and Biomedical Materials Science, Hannover Medical School , Carl-Neuberg-Straße 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Joern
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schaeske
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ehmke
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthetic Dentistry and Biomedical Materials Science, Hannover Medical School , Carl-Neuberg-Straße 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Winkel
authors.affiliation: Institute of Quantum Optics, Leibniz University of Hannover , Welfengarten 1, 30167 Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Heisterkamp
authors.affiliation: Institute of Quantum Optics, Leibniz University of Hannover , Welfengarten 1, 30167 Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Boris N
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: Chichkov
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthetic Dentistry and Biomedical Materials Science, Hannover Medical School , Carl-Neuberg-Straße 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Meike
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stiesch
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthetic Dentistry and Biomedical Materials Science, Hannover Medical School , Carl-Neuberg-Straße 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Nico S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Stumpp
mesh_terms: D001422:Bacterial Adhesion; D018441:Biofilms; D006801:Humans; D013499:Surface Properties; D014025:Titanium
chemical_list: D014025:Titanium
keywords: Streptococcus oralis; biofilm; implant infection; laser structuring; slippery liquid-infused porous surface; titanium