Page 365 - AWSAR 2.0

that the developed nano-flowers with pointed tips have the ability to pierce the bacterial cell membrane leading to its death. Antibacterial results have also proven that bacterial death was more prominent on the hydrothermally treated surface
as compared to the untreated titanium metal.
Staphylococcus aureus
is one of the most prevalent
causative agents for implant-
related infections. Treatment
options against its infection
can lead to substantial
morbidity as well as high risk of
adverse outcomes. Methicillin-
resistant S. aureus (MRSA)
also possesses a significant
threat in both the hospital and community environment affecting more than 150,000 patients annually in the European Union (EU) leading to an additional in-hospital costs of EUR 380 million for EU healthcare systems. Our research group has studied the effectiveness of bacteria-killing action by the developed nano-flowers against bacteria Staphylococcus aureus as well as MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), two among the most notorious infection agents.
Another interesting scientific finding from the present work was the wettability
Mr. Jithin Vishnu || 341
characteristics of the surface modified samples. Implant surfaces can be water-loving (hydrophilic), or water-hating (hydrophobic). Static water contact angle testing is a widely
used technique, which is employed to measure the wettability of surfaces. It was found that the surface modified surfaces with nano-features were more hydrophilic as compared to that of untreated samples. This hydrophilicity has proven to be a favourable factor for increased biocompatibility in the case of implant applications.
The current study results have demonstrated that this research group was successful in fighting against the bacterial invaders with the aid of the nano-army. This collaborative project between Vellore Institute of Technology, India and Northeastern University, United States, was effective in developing an antibacterial coating, which can significantly reduce bacterial infections without the use of antibiotics. Another interesting aspect is that the adopted surface modification method of hydrothermal treatment is simple, inexpensive
and eco-friendly.
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