Antibacterial Biocompatible Bioresorbable Alloys for Musculoskeletal Implants

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 DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The goal of this project is to investigate antibacterial property and biocompatibility of a new class of bioresorbable alloys for musculoskeletal repair and reconstruction. Despite advanced sterile surgical techniques and antibiotics, periprosthetic infections (PPI) still occur, and they are clinically challenging to treat. Once infected, these implants often require surgical removal because systemic administration of antibiotics does not provide adequate local antibiotic concentration and is ineffective when a biofilm forms, which leads to prolonged morbidity and significant health care burden. Thus, antibacterial biocompatible bioresorbable alloys are needed to mitigate these problems to reduce secondary surgeries, patient discomfort, and health care costs. Magnesium (Mg) alloys represent a promising new class of bioresorbable metals, providing complementary properties that are absent in implants available today. Commercially available pure Mg degrades too fast and is mechanically too weak for the surgical needs, while commercial Mg alloys contain aluminum (Al) or rare earth (RE) elements that pose serious concerns of long-term toxicity. The PI has engineered a novel class of Mg alloy composed of biocompatible elements that provide slower degradation and greater mechanical strength. The objective of this project is to determine antibacterial property and biocompatibility of the new Mg alloys for potential implant applications, e.g., fixation plates, screws, pins, and K-wires. The central hypothesis is that alloying Mg rationally with zinc (Zn) and calcium (Ca) will induce desirable biological responses in vitro and in vivo. The desirable biological responses for musculoskeletal implant applications include enhanced bone cell functions and regeneration, and reduced bacterial adhesion and viability on the new alloys, thus preventing infection. The central hypothesis is established based on the PI's prior results and positive effects of Mg, Zn, and Ca as essential nutrients for bone repair and immune system health. This project is innovative because the alloy design integrates biological benefits into the materials science tetrahedron to achieve synergistic properties for preventing infection and improving healing. Further, the approach for creating infection-free implants is innovative because it does not rely on antibiotics, and reduce the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), a common osteomyelitis-inducing pathogenic bacterium. This project is significant because it will produce critical knowledge on antibacterial property of Mg-Zn-Ca alloys and their biocompatibility for musculoskeletal implant applications, and overcome the critical gap toward preclinical studies and clinical translation.