Evenly Distributed Thin-Film Ag Coating on Stainless Plate by Tricomponent Ag/Silicate/PU with Antimicrobial and Biocompatible Properties

• Published in: ACS applied materials & interfaces 2014-11, Vol.6 (22), p.20324-20333
• Main Authors: Huang, Yi-Hsiu, Chen, Mark Hung-Chih, Lee, Bing-Heng, Hsieh, Kuo-Huang, Tu, Yuan-Kun, Lin, Jiang-Jen, Chang, Chih-Hao
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Anti-Infective Agents - chemistry; Anti-Infective Agents - pharmacology; BALB 3T3 Cells; Cell Survival - drug effects; Coated Materials, Biocompatible - chemistry; Coated Materials, Biocompatible - pharmacology; Metal Nanoparticles - chemistry; Mice; Microscopy, Atomic Force; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Polyurethanes - chemistry; Silicates - chemistry; Silver - chemistry; Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission; Stainless Steel - chemistry; Staphylococcus aureus - drug effects; Surface Properties
• ISSN: 1944-8244; 1944-8252
• DOI: 10.1021/am5057213

A tricomponent nanohybrid dispersion in water comprising silver nanoparticles (AgNP), nanometer-thick silicate platelets (NSP), and water-based polyurethane (PU) was developed for surface coating on orthopedic metal plates. The previously developed AgNP-on-NSP nanohybrid was homogeneously blended into a selected waterborne PU dispersion at varied weight ratios from 1/0.1 to 1/10 (w/w). PU was used to adhere the Ag nanohybrid to the metal surface. The resultant dispersions were analyzed and found to contain AgNP 2–18 nm in diameter and characterized by using UV absorption and TEM micrograph. The subsequent coating of AgNP/NSP–PU dispersion generated a film of 1.5 μm thickness on the metal plate surface, further characterized by an energy dispersive spectroscope (EDS) to show the homogeneous distribution of Ag, Si, and C elements on the metal plates. The surface antimicrobial efficacy was proven for the coating composition of AgNP/NSP to PU ranging from 1/1 to 1/5 by weight ratio but irrelevant to the thickness of the coated materials. The metal plate coated with the high Ag content at 1/1 (w/w) ratio was shown to have very low cytotoxicity toward the contacted mammal fibroblasts. Overall, the optimized tricomponent Ag/silicate/PU in water dispersion from 1/2 to 1/3 (w/w) could generate a stable film on a metal surface exhibiting both antimicrobial and biocompatible properties. The facile coating technique of the AgNP/NSP in waterborne PU is proven to be viable for fabricating infection- and cytotoxicity-free medical devices.