Boron Nitride VS Antibiotic?

Materials Scientists – Against Infections: Boron Nitride Nanofilms Will Replace Antibiotics While Protecting Against Bacterial and Fungal Inflammations

They presented antibacterial nano-coatings based on boron nitride, which are highly effective against microbial pathogens – up to 99.99%. Development can become safe an alternative to the usual antibiotics in implantology, since they do not have the negative “side effects”… The results of the work – in the international scientific journal ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces.

There is in the world ~~not~~ only coronavirus. For example, the number of surgical procedures is increasing everywhere, therefore, scientists are forced to solve the problem of microbial infections caused, in particular, by implants (for which special thanks to Dr. Znamensky and Professor Brannemark). These complications are especially serious during orthopedic and dental operations. At the same time, it is no secret that concomitant drug therapy for inflammation around implants often leads to side effects due to the characteristic properties of antibiotics, as well as its high doses.

A group of young scientists from NUST MISIS proposed a non-standard solution to the problem by examining the interaction of antibiotic-resistant gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli (E. coli) and a nanofilm consisting of a structured boron nitride surface. It turned out that such a coating affects 100% of bacterial cells after 24 hours.

“Hexagonal boron nitride has a complex of unique physicochemical and mechanical properties. As a result of the experiments, we found out that the special specific structure of boron nitride nanoparticles provides a bactericidal effect comparable to that of an antibiotic: bacteria die as a result of direct physical contact with a special needle-shaped surface of the nano-film. At the same time, there are no side effects typical for an antibiotic on body tissues, and boron nitride itself does not cause cytotoxicity, ”- said the co-author of the study, a researcher at the laboratory “Inorganic nanomaterials” NUST “MISIS” Christina Gudz.

Boron nitride nanofilms on silicon substrates after synthesis

The researchers went further and filled the micro-pores of a thin coating of boron nitride with the antibiotic gentamicin. The result is an antibacterial effect due to the complete release of the drug in a short initial period of time. Moreover, his dose was an order of magnitude less than with a conventional injection.

“Taking into account an average patient weight of 60 kg, his daily antibiotic dose is approximately 180 mg; provided that the area of the implant is, say, 30 cm2 and given that 55 μg of antibiotic is released from the nano-coating under study on the first day, it turns out that the proposed method assumes 100 times less antibiotic than with a standard injection “, – added Christina Goodz.

Co-authors of the development - young scientists from NUST "MISIS" Christina Gudz and Elizaveta Permyakova (right) — Co-authors of the development – young scientists from NUST “MISIS” Christina Gudz and Elizaveta Permyakova (right)

The process of deposition of a suspension of amorphous boron in water on a silicon substrate (preparation of samples for synthesis)

According to the authors of the development, the application of an antibacterial film based on boron nitride nanoparticles to the implant can minimize the risk of bacterial contamination due to the physical properties of the surface itself, as well as, in the case of antibiotic modification, local delivery of a minimum amount of the bactericidal component without weighting the implant.

At present, the team is completing in vitro studies of the obtained coatings, and is also working on optimizing the coating method for its promising application.

We are waiting in pharmacies.