Metallic-nanoparticle release systems for biomedical implant surfaces: effectiveness and safety

Abstract

The current focus of bioengineering for implant devices involves the development of functionalized surfaces, bioactive coatings, and metallic nanoparticles (mNPs) with a controlled release, together with strategies for the application of drugs in situ, aiming at reducing infection rates, with an improvement of clinical outcomes. Controversially, negative aspects, such as cytotoxicity, mNP incorporation, bioaccumulation, acquired autoimmunity, and systemic toxicity have gained attention at the same status of importance, concerning the release of mNPs from these surface systems. The balance between the promising prospects of system releasing mNPs and the undesirable long-term adverse reactions require further investigation. The scarcity of knowledge and the methods of analysis of nanoscale-based systems to control the sequence of migration, interaction, and nanoparticle incorporation with human tissues raise hesitation about their efficacy and safety. Looking ahead, this innovative approach requires additional scientific investigation for permitting an evolution of implants without counterpoints, while updating implant surface technologies to a new level of development. This critical review has explored the promising properties of metals at the nano-scale to promote broad-spectrum bacterial control, allowing for a decrease in using systemic antibiotics. Attempts have also been made to discuss the existing limitations and the future challenges regarding these technologies, besides the negative findings that are explored in the literature.

Keywords:

• Metallic nanoparticles
• functionalized surfaces
• antibacterial effects
• nanotoxicology
• drug-delivery systems

Acknowledgments

MFK is grateful to the laboratories (LMN/PUCRS – Materials and Nanoscience Lab; INTOX/PUCRS – Toxicology and Pharmacology Research Center) where discussions and knowledge were acquired for this review.

Disclosure statement

The author declares no conflict of interest.