Supramolecular hydrogel-infiltrated ceramics composite coating with combined antibacterial and self-lubricating performance

• Published in: Journal of materials chemistry. B, Materials for biology and medicine Materials for biology and medicine, 2021-12, Vol.9 (48), p.9852-9862
• Main Authors: Ha, Wei, Hou, Guo-Liang, Qin, Wu-Jun, Fu, Xiao-Kang, Zhao, Xiao-Qin, Wei, Xiao-Dong, An, Yu-Long, Shi, Yan-Ping
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anti-Bacterial Agents - chemical synthesis; Anti-Bacterial Agents - chemistry; Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology; Artificial joints; Cartilage; Cartilage (articular); Ceramic coatings; Ceramics; Ceramics - chemical synthesis; Ceramics - chemistry; Ceramics - pharmacology; Coatings; Composite materials; Cyclodextrin; Cyclodextrins; Cytotoxicity; Escherichia coli - drug effects; Hydrogels; Hydrogels - chemical synthesis; Hydrogels - chemistry; Hydrogels - pharmacology; Macromolecular Substances - chemical synthesis; Macromolecular Substances - chemistry; Macromolecular Substances - pharmacology; Materials Testing; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Nanoparticles; Particle Size; Polyethylene glycol; Pores; Reservoirs; Self lubrication; Silver; Sol-gel processes; Staphylococcus aureus - drug effects; Substrates; Toxicity; Wear resistance; Yttria-stabilized zirconia; Yttrium oxide; Zirconium dioxide
• ISSN: 2050-750X; 2050-7518
• DOI: 10.1039/d1tb01830b

Inspired by the structure and dynamic weeping lubricating mechanism of articular cartilage, a novel composite coating composed of a textured Y 2 O 3 -stabilized ZrO 2 (YSZ) ceramics reservoir and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) hybrid supramolecular hydrogel was developed on the basis of a soft/hard combination strategy. The precursor solution including the poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-modified AgNPs and α-cyclodextrins (α-CDs) could be infiltrated deep into (50-60 μm) the pores of a textured YSZ ceramics substrate by a vacuum infiltration method, in situ forming a supramolecular hydrogel within the pores through host-guest inclusion between α-CDs and PEG chains distributed onto the surface of AgNPs. The AgNPs hybrid hydrogel showed thixotropic and thermoresponsive gel-sol transition behavior, low cytotoxicity, and excellent drug-loading capacity, as well as significant antibacterial properties. The textured YSZ ceramics not only provided a hard supporting skeleton and stable reservoir to protect the supramolecular hydrogel from destruction under load-bearing or shear condition, but also allowed retaining the stimuli-responsive gel-sol transition property and drug-release capability of the infiltrated hydrogel, endowing the composite coating with excellent antibacterial properties, and self-lubrication and wear-resistance performance. The composite coating in this work brings a new insight into the design of antibacterial and self-lubricating ceramic coatings for artificial joint applications. A bioinspired composite coating is developed with combined antibacterial and lubricating properties, which shows great potential for artificial joint applications.