Surgical implants made of 3D-printed metals can resist 90% of bacterial infections

Experimental surgical implants made of 3D-printed metals can resist nearly 90% of the bacteria responsible for infections that may require medical intervention or removal of the devices, researchers say.

The new metal is a combination of the titanium alloy presently used to make implants, plus copper and tantalum.

When bacteria come into contact with the material’s copper surface, almost all of their cell walls rupture. Meanwhile, the tantalum encourages healthy cell growth with surrounding bone and tissue leading to improved bone connections and faster healing, the researchers said.

Based on experiments in rats, the 3D-printed antibacterial metal has the potential to replace “pure” titanium in orthopedic and dental implants, they reported in the International Journal of Extreme Manufacturing.

Currently used titanium implants have “no defensive power” against bacteria, study leader Amit Bandyopadhyay of Washington State University said in a statement.

Despite preventive medication, life-threatening infections can occur soon after surgery or months later, often requiring intravenous antibiotics. In about 7% of titanium implant surgery cases, surgeons need to remove and replace the devices.

“We need to find something where the device material itself offers some inherent resistance, more than just providing drug-based infection control. Here we’re saying, why not change the material itself and have inherent antibacterial response from the material itself?” Bandyopadhyay said.

The researchers are hoping to improve the bacterial death rate to more than 99%. They also want to make sure that their material performs well under real-world conditions that patients might encounter, such as hiking in the case of a knee replacement. Reuters