This coating for medical implants minimizes surface corrosion and inhibits the formation of bacterial biofilm while maintaining biocompatibility. The global medical device coatings market is expected to reach $17.4 billion in value by 2023 . The largest segment of this market is anti-microbial coatings, which dental or orthopedic implants employ to reduce the risk of infection and need for premature replacement. Implant coatings must inhibit bacterial growth but not impair survival and growth of cells in the recipient tissues. Many available coatings that afford strong antibacterial properties release ions that are toxic to mammalian cells. For dental and orthopedic implants, coatings that have good antibacterial activity, but are also biocompatible as well as providing corrosion-resistance are hard to find.
Researchers at the University of Florida have discovered that a very thin coating of silicon carbide (SiC) prevents the formation of bacterial biofilm without disrupting healthy mammalian cell adhesion or proliferation. The SiC coating has additional corrosion and abrasion resistant properties that increase durability of an implant.
Biocompatible implant coating to protect against bacterial infection and corrosion
The silicon carbide coating applies to an implant surface by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD). Quaternizing the SiC coating by adding nitrogen atoms to the SiC surface coatings during PECVD further increases the coating’s antimicrobial properties. The SiC surfaces are corrosion and wear-resistant and exhibit greater hydrophobicity than non-coated surfaces, minimizing the formation of biofilm. In one study, SiC coated materials exhibited a biofilm coverage of 16.9 percent whereas uncoated samples displayed coverage of 91.8 percent after 24 hours.
