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The aim of the experiment was to study the morphology of collagen-based scaffolds modified by caffeic acid, ferulic acid, and gallic acid, their swelling, and degradation rate, as well as the biological properties of scaffolds, such as antioxidant activity, hemo- and cytocompatibility, histological observation, and antibacterial properties. Scaffolds based on collagen with phenolic acid showed higher swelling rate and enzymatic stability compared to scaffolds based on pure collagen, and the radical scavenging activity was in the range 85–91%. All scaffolds were non-hemolytic and compatible with surrounding tissues. Collagen modified by ferulic acid showed potentially negative effects on hFOB cells as a significantly increased LDH release was found, but all of the studied materials had antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli . It may be assumed that phenolic acids, such as caffeic, ferulic, and gallic acid, are modifiers and provide novel biological properties of collagen-based scaffolds. This paper provides the summarization and comparison of the biological properties of scaffolds based on collagen modified with three different phenolic acids.

Implant surgeries are increasingly challenging due to their rising number. Achieving the desired biomaterial surface properties to ensure a strong bond with human tissue is a significant issue. This study investigates the influence of ultrasound (US) during the micro-arc oxidation (MAO) process on Ti13Zr13Nb bio-alloy, an area not previously explored, to enhance titanium alloy coatings’ properties for biomedical applications. Porous calcium-phosphate-based coatings were successfully deposited on Ti13Zr13Nb using MAO and ultrasound micro-arc oxidation (UMAO). Various properties such as morphology, chemical composition, topography, wettability, surface free energy, thickness, adhesion to the substrate, as well as mechanical and corrosion characteristics were thoroughly analyzed. Cytocompatibility was assessed using human osteoblasts. Using US during the MAO process increased coating roughness (up to ~ 17%), core height (up to 22%), isotropy (up to 17%), thickness (up to ~ 46%), and hardness (up to ~ 18%), depending on MAO parameters and US mode. Optimal coating performance was achieved at 136 mA, 600 s, and a sinusoidal US setting, resulting in the highest isotropy (~ 79%) and rutile quantity (2.6%), the lowest elastic modulus (~ 57 GPa), and the contact angle of ~ 70°, all of which could have contributed to enhancing osteoblast viability in vitro. This study, for the first time, underscores the importance of using the US during the MAO in tailoring the Ti13Zr13Nb for specific biomedical applications.

Bone cement based on magnesium phosphate has extremely favorable properties for its application as a bioactive bone substitute. However, further improvement is still expected due to difficult injectability and high brittleness. This paper reported the preparation of novel biocomposite cement, classified as dual-setting, obtained through ceramic hydration reaction and polymer cross-linking. Cement was composed of magnesium potassium phosphate and sodium alginate cross-linked with calcium carbonate and gluconolactone. The properties of the obtained composite material and the influence of sodium alginate modification on cement reaction were investigated. Our results indicated that proposed cements have several advantages compared to ceramic cement, like shortened curing time, diverse microstructure, increased wettability and biodegradability and improved paste cohesion and injectability. The magnesium phosphate cement with 1.50% sodium alginate obtained using a powder-to-liquid ratio of 2.5 g/mL and cross-linking ratio 90/120 of GDL/CC showed the most favorable properties, with no adverse effect on mechanical strength and osteoblasts cytocompatibility. Overall, our research suggested that this novel cement might have promising medical application prospects, especially in minimally invasive procedures.

Over the past decade, much attention has been paid to chitosan as a potential drug carrier because of its non-toxicity, biocompatibility, biodegradability and antibacterial properties. The effect of various chitosan characteristics on its ability to carry different antibiotics is discussed in the literature. In this work, we evaluated the influence of the different molecular weights of this polymer on its potential as an antibacterial membrane after adding gentamicin (1% w/w). Three types of chitosan membranes without and with antibiotic were prepared using a solvent casting process. Their microstructures were analyzed with a 4K digital microscope, and their chemical bonds were studied using FTIR spectroscopy. Furthermore, cytocompatibility on human osteoblasts and fibroblasts as well as antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus.) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) were assessed. We observed that the membrane prepared from medium-molecular-weight chitosan exhibited the highest contact angle (≈85°) and roughness (10.96 ± 0.21 µm) values, and its antibacterial activity was unfavorable. The maximum tensile strength and Young’s modulus of membranes improved and elongation decreased with an increase in the molecular weight of chitosan. Membranes prepared with high-molecular-weight chitosan possessed the best antibacterial activity, but mainly against S. aureus. For E. coli, is not advisable to add gentamicin to the chitosan membrane, or it is suggested to deplete its content. None of the fabricated membranes exhibited a full cytotoxic effect on osteoblastic and fibroblast cells. Based on our results, the most favorable membrane as a gentamicin carrier was obtained from high-molecular-weight chitosan.

Bacterial infections due to bone replacement surgeries require modifications of bone cement with antibacterial components. This study aimed to investigate whether the incorporation of gentamicin or nanometals into bone cement may reduce and to what extent bacterial growth without the loss of overall cytocompatibility and adverse effects in vitro. The bone cement Cemex was used as the base material, modified either with gentamicin sulfate or nanometals: Silver or copper. The inhibition of bacterial adhesion and growth was examined against five different bacterial strains along with integrity of erythrocytes, viability of blood platelets, and dental pulp stem cells. Bone cement modified with nanoAg or nanoCu revealed greater bactericidal effects and prevented the biofilm formation better compared to antibiotic-loaded bone cement. The cement containing nanoAg displayed good cytocompatibility without noticeable hemolysis of erythrocytes or blood platelet disfunction and good viability of dental pulp stem cells (DPSC). On the contrary, the nanoCu cement enhanced hemolysis of erythrocytes, reduced the platelets aggregation, and decreased DPSC viability. Based on these studies, we suggest the modification of bone cement with nanoAg may be a good strategy to provide improved implant fixative for bone regeneration purposes.

Background and Objectives: Surgical site infection (SSI) is a significant complication of non-reconstructive and reconstructive breast surgery. This study aimed to assess SSI after breast surgery over five years in a single center in Poland. The microorganisms responsible for SSI and their antibiotic susceptibilities were determined. Materials and Methods: Data from 2129 patients acquired over five years postoperatively by the Department of Surgical Oncology, Medical University of Gdansk in Poland were analyzed. Results: SSI was diagnosed in 132 patients (6.2%) and was an early infection in most cases (65.2%). The incidence of SSI was highest in patients who underwent subcutaneous amputation with simultaneous reconstruction using an artificial prosthesis (14.6%), and breast reconstruction via the transverse rectus abdominis muscle (TRAM) flap method (14.3%). Gram-positive bacteria were responsible for SSI in most cases (72.1%), and these were mainly Staphylococcus strains (53.6%). These strains were 100% susceptible to all beta-lactam antibiotics (except penicillin) but were less susceptible to macrolides and lincosamides. Conclusions: SSI is a serious problem, and attention should be focused on its prevention. Reconstruction using an artificial prosthesis or via the TRAM flap method is connected to increased SSI incidence. Further studies are required to prevent SSI following breast surgery.

In this study, gelatin-based films containing graphene nanoparticles were obtained. Nanoparticles were taken from four chosen commercial graphene nanoplatelets with different surface areas, such as 150 m2/g, 300 m2/g, 500 m2/g, and 750 m2/g, obtained in different conditions. Their morphology was observed using SEM with STEM mode; porosity, Raman spectra and elemental analysis were checked; and biological properties, such as hemolysis and cytotoxicity, were evaluated. Then, the selected biocompatible nanoparticles were used as the gelatin film modification with 10% concentration. As a result of solvent evaporation, homogeneous thin films were obtained. The surface’s properties, mechanical strength, antioxidant activity, and water vapor permeation rate were examined to select the appropriate film for biomedical applications. We found that the addition of graphene nanoplatelets had a significant effect on the properties of materials, improving surface roughness, surface free energy, antioxidant activity, tensile strength, and Young’s modulus. For the most favorable candidate for wound dressing applications, we chose a gelatin film containing nanoparticles with a surface area of 500 m2/g.

This paper concerns the physicochemical properties of chitosan/phenolic acid thin films irradiated by ultraviolet radiation with wavelengths between 200 and 290 nm (UVC) light. We investigated the preparation and characterization of thin films based on chitosan (CTS) with tannic (TA), caffeic (CA) and ferulic acid (FA) addition as potential food-packaging materials. Such materials were then exposed to the UVC light (254 nm) for 1 and 2 h to perform the sterilization process. Different properties of thin films before and after irradiation were determined by various methods such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), mechanical properties and by the surface free energy determination. Moreover, the antimicrobial activity of the films and their potential to reduce the risk of contamination was assessed. The results showed that the phenolic acid improving properties of chitosan-based films, short UVC radiation may be used as sterilization method for those films, and also that the addition of ferulic acid obtains effective antimicrobial activity, which have great benefit for food packing applications.

The main aim of the research was to develop a new biocompatible and injectable composite with the potential for application as a bone-to-implant bonding material or as a bone substitute. A composite based on hydroxyapatite, gelatin, and two various types of commercially available transglutaminase (TgBDF/TgSNF), as a cross-linking agent, was proposed. To evaluate the impacts of composite content and processing parameters on various properties of the material, the following research was performed: the morphology was examined by SEM microscopy, the chemical structure by FTIR spectroscopy, the degradation behavior was examined in simulated body fluid, the injectability test was performed using an automatic syringe pump, the mechanical properties using a nanoindentation technique, the surface wettability was examined by an optical tensiometer, and the cell viability was assayed by MTT and LDH. In all cases, a composite paste was successfully obtained. Injectability varied between 8 and 15 min. The type of transglutaminase did not significantly affect the surface topography or chemical composition. All samples demonstrated proper nanomechanical properties with Young’s modulus and the hardness close to the values of natural bone. BDF demonstrated better hydrophilic properties and structural stability over 7 days in comparison with SNF. In all cases, the transglutaminase did not lead to cell necrosis, but cellular proliferation was significantly inhibited, especially for the BDF agent.

Spacers, in terms of instruments used in revision surgery for the local treatment of postoperative infection, are usually made of metal rod covered by antibiotic-loaded bone cement. One of the main limitations of this temporary implant is the debonding effect of metal–bone cement interface, leading to aseptic loosening. Material selection, as well as surface treatment, should be evaluated in order to minimize the risk of fraction and improve the implant-cement fixation the appropriate manufacturing. In this study, Ti13Zr13Nb alloys that were prepared by Selective Laser Melting and surface treated were coated with bone cement loaded with either gentamicin or nanosilver, and the effects of such alloy modifications were investigated. The SLM-made specimens of Ti13Zr13Nb were surface treated by sandblasting, etching, or grounding. For each treatment, Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), contact profilometer, optical tensiometer, and nano-test technique carried out microstructure characterization and surface analysis. The three types of bone cement i.e., pure, containing gentamicin and doped with nanosilver were applied to alloy surfaces and assessed for cement cohesion and its adhesion to the surface by nanoscratch test and pull-off. Next, the inhibition of bacterial growth and cytocompatibility of specimens were investigated by the Bauer-Kirby test and MTS assay respectively. The results of each test were compared to the two control groups, consisting of commercially available Ti13Zr13Nb and untreated SLM-made specimens. The highest adhesion bone cement to the titanium alloy was obtained for specimens with high nanohardness and roughness. However, no explicit relation of adhesion strength with wettability and surface energy of alloy was observed. Sandblasting or etching were the best alloys treatments in terms of the adhesion of either pure or modified bone cements. Antibacterial additives for bone cement affected its properties. Gentamicin and nanosilver allowed for adequate anti-bacterial protection while maintaining the overall biocompatibility of obtained spacers. However, they had different effects on the cement’s adhesive capacity or its own cohesion. Furthermore, the addition of silver nanoparticles improved the nanomechanical properties of bone cements. Surface treatment and method of fabrication of titanium affected surface parameters that had a significant impact on cement-titanium fixation.