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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Bioeng. Biotechnol.
Sec. Biomaterials
Volume 12 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fbioe.2024.1421706

Antibacterial and Cytocompatible Silver Coating for Titanium Boston Keratoprosthesis

Provisionally accepted
Silvia G. Gómez Silvia G. Gómez 1,2*Maria-Pau Ginebra Maria-Pau Ginebra 1,2,3,4Javier Gil Mur Javier Gil Mur 5Rafael I. Barraquer Rafael I. Barraquer 6,7,8José M. Manero José M. Manero 1,2
  • 1 Biomaterials, Biomechanics and Tissue Engineering , Polytechnic University of Catalonia, Barcelona, Balearic Islands, Spain
  • 2 Barcelona Research Center in Multiscale Science and Egineering, Polytechnic University of Catalonia, Barcelona, Balearic Islands, Spain
  • 3 Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
  • 4 Center for Biomedical Research in the Network in Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), Madrid, Spain
  • 5 Bioengineering Institute of Technology. International University of Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain
  • 6 Clínica Oftalmológica Barraquer, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
  • 7 Instituto Universitario Barraquer, Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
  • 8 International University of Catalonia, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    keratoprosthesis (BKPro) 1 , Corneal blindness 2 , Titanium (Ti) 3 , Infection 4 , Antibacterial properties 5 , Electrodeposition 6 , Cytotoxicity 7 , Silver deposition 8The Boston Keratoprosthesis (BKPro) is a key medical device for restoring vision in cases of severe corneal blindness. However, a significant challenge for its long-term success lies in the risk of infection, with rates ranging from 3.4 % to 17.3 %. Surprisingly, only a few studies have explored infection-preventing mechanisms for the BKPro. In this study, we introduce a novel approach utilizing silver ions to enhance the antibacterial properties of the titanium backplate of the BKPro. While silver ions are recognized for their antibacterial properties, their application in corneal implants remains unexplored. Our research employs a unique electrodeposition technique to securely attach silver complexes to the titanium surfaces, achieving bactericidal effects without harming the corneal tissue. The obtained results are significant as they demonstrate the effectiveness of this approach in preventing bacterial infections commonly associated with BKPro. Moreover, our research proposes the mechanisms by which silver ions combat bacteria, providing valuable insights for future advancements in implant design and infection prevention. This work not only addresses a critical issue in the field of ophthalmology and also opens new avenues for improving the safety and longevity of corneal implants.

    Keywords: Boston keratoprosthesis (BKPro), Corneal blindness, Titanium (Ti), Infection, antibacterial properties, electrodeposition, Cytotoxicicity, Silver deposition

    Received: 22 Apr 2024; Accepted: 02 Sep 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Gómez, Ginebra, Gil Mur, Barraquer and Manero. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Silvia G. Gómez, Biomaterials, Biomechanics and Tissue Engineering , Polytechnic University of Catalonia, Barcelona, 08034, Balearic Islands, Spain

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.