Point-of-care antimicrobial coating protects orthopaedic implants from bacterial challenge

September 27, 2021

Title

Point-of-care antimicrobial coating protects orthopaedic implants from bacterial challenge

Author

Weixian Xi

Year

2021

Journal

Nature Communications

Abstract

Implant related infections are the most common cause of joint arthroplasty failure, requiring revision surgeries and a new implant, resulting in a cost of $8.6 billion annually. To address this problem, we created a class of coating technology that is applied in the operating room, in a procedure that takes less than 10 min, and can incorporate any desired antibiotic. Our coating technology uses an in situ coupling reaction of branched poly(ethylene glycol) and poly(allyl mercaptan) (PEG-PAM) polymers to generate an amphiphilic polymeric coating. We show in vivo efficacy in preventing implant infection in both post-arthroplasty infection and post-spinal surgery infection mouse models. Our technology displays efficacy with or without systemic antibiotics, the standard of care. Our coating technology is applied in a clinically relevant time frame, does not require modification of implant manufacturing process, and does not change the implant shelf life.

Instrument

FT/IR-420

Keywords

coating, technology, polymers, manufacturing