Nanospikes on Customized 3D‐Printed Titanium Implant Surface Inhibits Bacterial Colonization

Abstract

Additive manufacturing has opened the door to patient‐tailored orthopedic implants, which can significantly minimize implant failures associated with prosthesis‐to‐bone mismatch. Success of an implant also depends on the choice of implant materials, effective osseointegration, implant quality, and the mechanical properties together with its capability to limit infection due to bacterial contamination. Herein, nanospikes are created on 3D‐printed titanium‐alloyed implant surfaces, which can kill bacteria to minimize any implant‐associated infections. For the first time, orthopedic implants with a fracture to the proximal phalanx are fabricated using selective laser melting (SLM) followed by a heat‐treatment step and the hydrothermal process. It is showed in the results that by optimizing SLM parameters, dimensionally consistent parts can be produced and tensile properties of the 3D‐printed implants can be significantly improved via a simple cyclic heat‐treatment process compared to the traditionally manufactured implants. Nanospikes similar to those present on dragonfly wings fabricated on 3D‐printed implants surface are able to kill above 90% of adhering bacteria by rupturing the membranes upon contact. These results indicate that fabrication of patient‐specific 3D‐printed implants with inherent bactericidal properties has the potential to eliminate postsurgical infections and possible implant failures.