Abstract
A versatile method is reported for the manufacturing of antimicrobial (AM) surgery equipment utilising fused deposition modelling (FDM), three-dimensional (3D) printing and sonochemistry thin-film deposition technology. A surgical retractor was replicated from a commercial polylactic acid (PLA) thermoplastic filament, while a thin layer of silver (Ag) nanoparticles (NPs) was developed via a simple and scalable sonochemical deposition method. The PLA retractor covered with Ag NPs (PLA@Ag) exhibited vigorous AM properties examined by a reduction in Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria viability (%) experiments at 30, 60 and 120 min duration of contact (p < 0.05). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed the surface morphology of bare PLA and PLA@Ag retractor, revealing a homogeneous and full surface coverage of Ag NPs. X-Ray diffraction (XRD) analysis indicated the crystallinity of Ag nanocoating. Ultraviolent-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) highlighted the AgNP plasmonic optical responses and average particle size of 31.08 ± 6.68 nm. TEM images of the PLA@Ag crossection demonstrated the thickness of the deposited Ag nanolayer, as well as an observed tendency of AgNPs to penetrate though the outer surface of PLA. The combination of 3D printing and sonochemistry technology could open new avenues in the manufacturing of low-cost and on-demand antimicrobial surgery equipment.
Highlights
The rapid prototyping has dramatically expanded over the last 20 y, with the three-dimensional (3D) printing in the forefront as one of the most promising technologies, amongst others [1,2]. 3D printing is an additive manufacturing process based on the sequential addition of material layers offering the opportunity to print 3D parts and components made of different materials with variable mechanical and physicochemical properties [3,4]
This is more precisely explained by the Ag plasmonic nature when found in nanoscale dimensions, exhibiting the well-known localised surface plasmon resonance (LSPR)
polylactic acid (PLA)@Ag Army/Navy retractors with antimicrobial activity and on demand geometry have been fabricated with a fast, simple, versatile and easy two-step protocol based on 3D printing and the sonochemical deposition of thin films
Summary
The rapid prototyping has dramatically expanded over the last 20 y, with the three-dimensional (3D) printing in the forefront as one of the most promising technologies, amongst others [1,2]. 3D printing is an additive manufacturing process based on the sequential addition of material layers offering the opportunity to print 3D parts and components made of different materials with variable mechanical and physicochemical properties [3,4]. The additive manufacturing of simple shapes, and especially with fused deposition modelling (FDM) technology in case of polymeric materials, has become much more pronounced. There are various techniques for printing solid materials in 3D, including electron beam freeform fabrication, direct metal laser sintering, and fused deposition modeling (FDM), among others [5]. PLA could be a suitable material for printing surgical instruments. Considering a surgery instrument, it should be sterile, and in the ideal case exhibit resistance to biofilm formation. This is because surgery that involves an incision in the skin can lead to a wound infection after surgery, while surgical wound infections may be painful or hot to touch. Minimal degradation of PLA has been reported for in vitro experiments, when physiological conditions are simulated for days to weeks [25]
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