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340 || AWSAR Awarded Popular Science Stories - 2019
The scientific world is trying to develop various strategies to fight against this bacterial army in order to protect the patients from serious problems resulting from microbial infections. Even though
several antibiotics are being
developed all around the world
to mitigate these infections, but
the bacteria are very smart to
develop antibiotic resistance.
This rise of antibiotic-resistance
is one of the major challenges
clinicians face all over the
world in treating implant-related
infections.
Hence, our research group
decided to design a strategy to
kill bacteria, without allowing
them to develop resistance against antibiotic drugs. This was a collaborative project between Vellore Institute of Technology, India and Northeastern University, United States, led by Dr Geetha Manivasagam (from India) and Dr Thomas J Webster (from the US). This research team found that, surface engineering to fabricate nano-sized structures on bulk surface has been gaining prime importance in intensifying antibacterial activity.
We have developed titanium dioxide (TiO2) coating on the titanium surface via a simple hydrothermal method. Titanium and its alloys are material used globally, for orthopaedic applications owing to biocompatibility inside human body, increased corrosion resistance and better mechanical properties. Commercially, pure titanium material was selected as the base material as it is one of the most widely used material for implant applications. Hydrothermal treatment is a simple and inexpensive procedure to develop nano-level morphologies on the surface of implant material. During the experiment, the titanium metal was simultaneously heated and put under pressure (A: see change) in an
alkaline environment (sodium hydroxide) in order to alter the surface characteristics without altering the bulk mechanical properties.
Titanium dioxide is the natural oxide of titanium, which can improve the biocompatibility and corrosion resistance of titanium implants. We have conducted several experiments with variable combinations of temperature, time and concentrations to optimize the morphology. It was observed that during hydrothermal treatment performed at 225°C for 5 hours, sharp pointed nano- features were developed. At a nanometre scale, this coating was observed to be composed of flower-like structures with pointed tips. Antibacterial studies have proved that these nano-features are extremely efficient in killing the bacteria,
thereby, reducing bacterial infection.
For a better understanding, we have
developed a nano-army against bacterial colonization. The army comprised well-trained nano-soldiers with sharp pointed weapons in order to secure the titanium territory. In general, the primary motive of any army is to safeguard their country from outside forces. In this case, the nano-soldiers on the surface served as a barrier against bacterial colonial forces in order to protect the bulk titanium surface. Antibacterial studies have proven
About two-thirds of the patients have a preceding infectious illness, hence, GBS is regarded as a prototype of a ‘post- infectious’ disease. In most patients, the time gap between the infectious illness and the