Saraca asoca extract mediated ZnO/PVA nanocomposite coatings for orthopaedic implants

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Orthopaedic implants commonly use titanium and its alloys because of their superior mechanical properties, corrosion resistance and biocompatibility. However, these metal implants have limited application, hindered by poor osseointegration and the potential risk of implant-associated infections. To overcome these obstacles, this study intends to address these issues by integrating haemocompatible and antibacterial coatings made from green synthesised zinc oxide nanoparticles, using Saraca asoca leaf extract (SA-ZnO). These nanoparticles may serve to improve the osteoconductivity and limit bacterial growth at the site of implant. The prepared nanoparticles (SA-ZnO) were characterized using various techniques and then integrated with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), resulting in (SA-ZnO/PVA) nanocomposite. These prepared nanocomposites were further coated onto the Titanium alloy substrate (Ti-6Al-4V) using doctor's blade technique and morphologically characterized. Atomic force microscopy analysis demonstrated that SA-ZnO/PVA nanocomposite coated substrate exhibited favourable micro-roughness, enhancing cell attachment and promoting protein adsorption, which is crucial for effective osseointegration. Additionally, haemocompatibility tests demonstrated no adverse effects on blood cells, indicating the coating's compatibility with biological systems. Antimicrobial studies showed a significant zone of inhibition against both gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria, highlighting the antibacterial potential of SA-ZnO/PVA nanocomposite coatings. Thus, these findings imply that the green synthesised ZnO nanoparticles amalgamated with (PVA) serve as promising surface coating materials, that can be used effectively in orthopaedic implants to reduce bacterial adherence and growth, thus lowering the incidence of postoperative infections and enhancing overall implant integration success.