| Abstract Scope |
Bone grafting is frequently complicated by post-surgical infections. The rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria underscores the need for bone scaffolds with intrinsic antimicrobial properties that maintain biocompatibility. Fluorapatite (FA), known for its osteoconductivity, shows promise for bone scaffolds. Incorporating antimicrobial agents like copper, zinc, and silver into FA may enhance its bacteriostatic properties while promoting osteoblast viability. In our previous work, copper-doped FA at 1-5 mol% reduced bacterial adhesion by 2- to 3-log folds however decreased cell viability due to cytotoxic copper oxide phases at higher concentrations.
This study optimizes copper concentrations in FA to balance antimicrobial efficacy with osteoblast viability. FA was doped with 0.25-1.0 mol% Cu using the wet chemistry precipitation method, and characterized by XRD, FTIR, and SEM. Antimicrobial activity was tested against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and osteoblast viability was assessed in human osteoblast cultures.
Preliminary results indicate that 0.25-0.5 mol% CuFA provides an optimal balance, reducing bacterial adhesion while maintaining cell viability. This suggests that low-concentration CuFA can serve as a dual-functional scaffold material, offering antimicrobial properties and supporting bone regeneration in high-risk surgical environments. |