A New Way to Coat Body Implants with Silver

Coating body implants, especially those made of polymers such as those used for hernia or gynecological repair, with silver nanoparticles has become almost commonplace. Still, one challenge has been to keep the particles on the implant and prevent them from leaching out into the patient. A new approach is under study by researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, who say they have developed a method to coat polymers that keeps the nanoparticles intact. Polymers can be natural or synthetic and often makeup materials in living organisms or man-made materials. Examples of natural polymers are wool, DNA, silk, cellulose and proteins. Artificial polymers are mostly made from petroleum and include items like nylon, polyethylene, polyester, Teflon, and epoxy. Many implants are artificial polymers. Getting the silver to stick to polymers, though, can be difficult. Associate Professor Vinoy Thomas, who heads the research team, noted in a prepared statement: “The challenge of attaching metallic nanoparticles is tough in cases involving hydrophobic (water rejecting) polymeric biomaterials, which most polymeric biomaterials fall under.” The team developed a process they call plasma electroless reduction or PER. The PER process deposits silver and gold nanostructures on polymer material surfaces, including cellulose paper, polypropylene-based facemasks and 3-D printed polymer scaffolds used for implants. Speaking about facemasks and other surfaces, Thomas added: “[Plasma] has enormous capability in materials processing and to decontaminate surfaces for preventing the spread of COVID-19 and other communicable diseases.