Developing titanium (Ti) surfaces that are biocompatible yet serve as deterrents for bacterial attachment and growth are particularly appealing in tackling the ongoing problem of sepsis-induced implant failures. Realising this could include coating Ti with the bioactive lipid, lysophosphatidic acid. Surgical revision for failed total joint replacements costs a staggering £300m/yr and approximately 20% of this burden is attributed to implant failure through bacterial infection. Producing biomaterials that deter microbial attachment as well as securing robust osseointegration continues to be a significant research challenge in contemporary bone biomaterials design. Steps to realising novel improvements are further compounded by the concerns raised over resistance of bacteria to many antimicrobial agents. Clearly this is a major constraint necessitating an entirely novel approach to minimising implant infection risk. We therefore turned our attention to certain lysophosphatidic acids (LPAs) for Ti functionalisation. We have found LPA to enhance calcitriol-induced human osteoblast (hOB) maturation. Of further significance is the discovery that LPA can directly inhibit the growth of certain bacteria and even co-operate with some antibiotics to bring about their demise. Herein we describe the fabrication of a hOB-compatible Ti surface with palmitoyl-LPA (P-LPA) which we also find hinders bacterial attachment.Summary Statement
Introduction
Conventional culture techniques have poor sensitivity for detecting bacteria growing in biofilms, which can result in under-diagnosis of infections. Sonication of biofilm colonised orthopaedic biomaterials can render bacteria in biofilm more culturable, thereby improving diagnosis of orthopaedic implant infections. Prosthetic joint infection (PJI) is a potentially devastating complication in arthroplasty. Biofilm formation is central to PJI offering protection to the contained bacteria against host defence system and antimicrobials. Orthopaedic biomaterials generally have a proclivity to biofilm colonisation. Conventional culture technique has a low sensitivity for detecting bacteria in biofilm. Sonication can disrupt bacteria biofilms aggregations and dislodge them from colonised surfaces, rendering them culturable and consequently improve the diagnosis of otherwise culture-negative PJI. We investigated the effect of ultrasonication on biofilms adherent to poylmethylmethacrylate PMMA cement.Summary Statement
Introduction
