Browsing by Author "Barão, V.A.R."

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    Amyloid-like Protein-Metal Sulfide Nanocoatings for Synergistic Photothermal and Antibacterial Implant Surface Protection
    (American Chemical Society, 2025) Li, K.; Zhang, X.; Xu, L.; Xu, K.; Rao, X.; Murugesan, S.; Barão, V.A.R.; Yang, P.; Kang, E.-T.
    Preventing bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation is essential for the long-term success of biomedical implants. Implant-associated infections remain a significant clinical challenge, underscoring the urgent need for effective and durable antimicrobial surface strategies. This study develops a nanocoating with dual antibacterial adhesion and photothermal antibacterial properties for biomedical surface modification. Bovine serum albumin-templated metal sulfide (MS@BSA) nanocomposites are synthesized and converted into a stable nanofilm via phase-transitioned BSA (PTB) self-assembly. The MS@PTB coating adheres to various substrates and demonstrates broad-spectrum antibacterial activity. In vitro assays show that the copper sulfide@PTB (CuS@PTB) coating significantly reduces bacterial attachment and suppresses biofilm development upon 808 nm near-infrared irradiation. RNA sequencing identifies differentially expressed genes in common pathogens, indicating disrupted respiration, energy metabolism, and virulence pathways as well as stress responses to heat and copper ions. In vivo experiments using rat subcutaneous infection and abdominal wall defect models demonstrate that CuS@PTB markedly reduces bacterial load and inflammatory responses while accelerating tissue regeneration and maintaining excellent biocompatibility. The results demonstrate the synergistic antibacterial effects of photothermal heating and Cu ion release, supporting CuS@PTB as a promising antimicrobial surface coating for implantable biomaterials. © 2025 American Chemical Society
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    Antibacterial MXenes: An emerging non-antibiotic paradigm for surface engineering of orthopedic and dental implants
    (KeAi Communications Co., 2025) Gnanasekar, S.; He, X.; Nagay, B.E.; Xu, K.; Rao, X.; Duan, S.; Murugesan, S.; Barão, V.A.R.; Kang, E.-T.; Xu, L.
    The colonization of planktonic bacteria onto implant surfaces is a serious concern in the medical field due to increasing infection-related mortality and fiscal difficulties worldwide. Various static, dynamic, and active coating techniques were established to tackle implant-associated infections (IAIs). However, the existing implant coating methods often confront issues with poor universality for different substrates, adaptability, stability, and the emergence of multi-drug resistance (MDR). The miraculous two-dimensional (2D) MXenes with outstanding multimodal bactericidal effects have been spotted as promising non-antibiotic implant surface coating additives for superior antibiofilm and osseointegration properties. This review systematically assesses the recent progress of antibacterial MXenes and their revolutionary usage to prevent peri-implantitis. We specifically sought to disclose the various forms of MXenes, such as composites, heterojunctions (HJs), and functional biomaterials used in combatting MDR and non-MDR bacterial pathogens by adopting therapeutic ventures such as photothermal therapy (PTT), photodynamic therapy (PDT), chemodynamic therapy (CDT), and sonodynamic therapy (SDT). In addition, we outlined the extension of MXene antibacterial systems for orthopedic and dental implant surface engineering to improve their longevity and safety. A thorough understanding of antibacterial MXenes synthesis, surface modification strategies, and biocompatible functional properties was deliberated to facilitate the construction of innovative coatings. Lastly, some viewpoints on the current limitations and key considerations for the future concept design of MXenes-coated implants were contemplated constructively to promote clinical outcomes. © 2025 The Authors
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    Biomimetic Engineering of Robust Gradient Antibacterial Coatings using Hollow Nanoframes of Prussian Blue Analogues
    (John Wiley and Sons Inc, 2025) He, X.; Wu, H.; Xu, K.; Tang, J.; Li, C.; Gnanasekar, G.; Rao, X.; Murugesan, S.; Barão, V.A.R.; Kang, E.-T.; Xu, L.
    Photothermal therapy for bacterial infections poses a significant challenge due to the high temperatures required for effective bacterial eradication, which can also harm surrounding healthy tissues. Determining the minimal effective temperature for bacterial destruction is therefore critical. In this study, artificial reef-like manganese-doped Prussian blue (PBMn) nanoframes are developed as photothermal agents and physical cross-linkers to reinforce a phytic acid and cationic polymer network coating. This innovative deposition approach facilitates the creation of a gradient PBMn-enhanced phytic acid-cationic polymer (PC-PBM) coating, achieving a balance between effective photothermal antibacterial activity and reduced heat-induced collateral damage. When applied to a polyurethane (PU) substrate, the gradient PC-PBM coating exhibits excellent photothermal efficiency, biocompatibility, and tunable antibacterial activity. Gene transcriptomics analysis demonstrates significant downregulation of virulence genes and biofilm-forming genes in pathogens following PC-PBM treatment, confirming the antibacterial efficacy of the coating. Both in vitro and in vivo evaluations, including studies in an infected hernia model, underscore the coating's excellent anti-infection performance. This work introduces a robust and biomimetic strategy for constructing gradient coating, advancing photothermal therapy by achieving effective bacterial eradication with reducing collateral damage to healthy tissues. © 2025 Wiley-VCH GmbH.
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    Synthesis-driven properties of MXenes: A comprehensive review of antimicrobial, cellular, and osseointegration potentials applied to biomedical implants
    (Elsevier Ltd, 2025) Calazans Neto, J.V.; Asokan, A.; Nagay, B.E.; Nechithodi, S.; Souza, J.G.S.; Gnanasekar, S.; Xu, L.; Murugesan, S.; Barão, V.A.R.
    Bacterial colonization in biomedical devices can lead to inflammation and bone loss, thereby compromising the implant's function. The emergence of multi-drug-resistant (MDR) bacteria, also known as superbugs, due to antibiotic abuse, further complicates and necessitates the exploration of innovative, versatile strategies. MXenes with multi-modal antimicrobial functionalities are promising two-dimensional (2D) materials for eliminating the complexities of biofilm, and for improving bone adhesion and tissue regeneration. However, methodologies for synthesizing MXenes are crucial to their performance, highlighting the need for further optimization. This review comprehensively explores MXene synthesis for biomaterial applications by analyzing their microbiological and biological properties while highlighting their potential to enhance osseointegration. To this end, a systematic search was performed, and 22 studies were identified that assessed at least one aspect related to the antibacterial activity, biocompatibility, cytotoxicity, or surface characterization of MXenes. The MXenes analyzed in this review—Ti3AlC2, Mo2Ti2C3, and Nb2AlC—exhibit the typical accordion-like morphology with ultrathin sheets. These materials possess intrinsic antimicrobial properties that inhibit bacterial growth and biofilm formation, which are further enhanced upon exposure to near-infrared (NIR) radiation. Moreover, MXenes exhibit biocompatibility, supporting cell adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation, as well as fostering osseointegration and bone regeneration. Despite these promising findings, the wide variability in synthesis methods and material compositions underscores the need for further clinical studies to enable the development of these materials into next-generation antimicrobial and bioactive coatings for biomedical implant applications. © 2025 Elsevier Ltd