The coatings are designed to minimise complications following prosthetic surgery.
Aug 14 (TV BRICS/GNA) – Researchers at Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University (IKBFU), a partner of TV BRICS, in collaboration with colleagues, have successfully tested a new bioactive material for orthopaedics based on the natural mineral hydroxyapatite with the addition of nitrogen oxide. This development will help reduce the risk of prosthesis rejection and protect patients from bacterial infections. This was reported on theĀ websiteĀ of the university.
Traditional implants made from titanium alloys are extremely strong but are not sufficiently “bioactive”: they are unable to interact with living tissue. As a result, the prosthesis may fail to integrate properly with the bone or encourage bacterial growth. According to statistics, up to 29 per cent of major joint replacement operations require repeat surgery. Russian scientists have proposed a method to reduce such risks.
To address the problem of titanium implant rejection, the implant is coated with hydroxyapatite ā a calcium-phosphate mineral similar in composition to bone tissue. Nitric oxide has been added to the coating to give it antibacterial properties. This natural compound stimulates tissue healing, improves blood supply and inhibits bacterial growth.
Comprehensive biomedical testing has demonstrated the materialās high biocompatibility: cells on the coated surface survived much better than on bare titanium without the coating.
“The use of nitrogen-enriched calcium phosphate coatings is a promising approach that could help create a healing microenvironment around implants, thereby addressing the problem of the body rejecting medical devices,”Ā saidĀ Vladimir Malashchenko, a research fellow at the Centre for Immunology and Cellular Biotechnology at Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University.
According to the researchers, the development of such materials is an important step towards creating personalised medical solutions that will speed up patient recovery and minimise the risk of complications following orthopaedic surgery. Going forward, the scientists plan to continue their research into the effects of nitric oxide on living tissue.
GNA/TV BRICS