Vapor-Phase-Deposited Ag/Ir and Ag/Au Film Heterostructures for Implant Materials: Cytotoxic, Antibacterial and Histological Studies.

Using gas-phase deposition (Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) and Metal Organic Chemical Vapor Deposition (MOCVD)) methods, modern implant samples (Ti alloy and CFR-PEEK polymer, 30% carbon fiber) were functionalized with film heterostructures consisting of an iridium or gold sublayer, on the surface of which an antibacterial component (silver) was deposited: Ag/Ir(Au)/Ti(CFR-PEEK). The biocidal effect of the heterostructures was investigated, the effect of the surface relief of the carrier and the metal sublayer on antibacterial activity was established, and the dynamics of silver dissolution was evaluated. It has been shown that the activity of Ag/Ir heterostructures was due to high Ag+ release rates, which led to rapid (2-4 h) inhibition of P. aeruginosa growth. In the case of Ag/Au type heterostructures, the inhibition of the growth of P. aeruginosa and S. aureus occurred more slowly (from 6 h), and the antibacterial activity appeared to be due to the contribution of two agents (Ag+ and Au+ ions). It was found, according to the in vitro cytotoxicity study, that heterostructures did not exhibit toxic effects (cell viability > 95-98%). An in vivo biocompatibility assessment based on the results of a morphohistological study showed that after implantation for a period of 30 days, the samples were characterized by the presence of a thin fibrous capsule without volume thickening and signs of inflammation.

Electrokinetic potential of nanoparticles in reverse AOT micelles: photometric determination and role in the processes of heterocoagulation, separation, and concentration.

A simple photometric method for determining the electrophoretic mobility of nano- and microparticles in reverse micelles and in solvents with a low dielectric permittivity (2-5) has been developed. The method is based on the use of a thermostatically controlled diaphragm-based optical cell (length 2 cm) with three vertical plane-parallel electrodes (2 x 3 cm; interelectrode gap, 0.3 cm) placed into a standard photocolorimeter. When an electrostatic field (100-600 V) is applied, the particles begin to move away from the electrode of the same polarity. The path traveled by the particles for a given time (2-30 s) is calculated from the change in the optical density of the solution in the near-electrode zone. The electrophoretic potential of nanoparticles in the model systems, calculated from the values of electrophoretic mobility by Huckel-Onsager theory, varied from 70 (Ag nanoparticles in AOT micelles in decane) to -73 mV (aggregated SiO(2) nanoparticles in a decane-chloroform mixture). Calculations by the classical Deryaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (DLVO) theory determined the contribution of the electrostatic interaction to the stability of the studied systems. We have shown that the surface charge of nanoparticles permits: (1) an electrophoretic concentration of the charged nanoparticles (Ag) with an enrichment factor of up to 10(4), (2) the separation of nanoparticles with zero (C(60)) and a high (Ag) electrokinetic potentials, and (3) the formation of electrostatically bound aggregates (Ag-SiO(2)) through the heterocoagulation of oppositely charged particles.