Mechano-Bactericidal Activities of Orthopedic Implants with Nanostructured Surfaces: Recent Advances and Prospects

Orthopedic surgery enables patients to regain the functions of lost or damaged bone tissues, but success is often compromised by highly prevalent surgery site infections (SSIs). To prevent SSIs and avoid superbugs, mechano-bactericidal strategies are being developed to inactivate bacteria on nanostructured surfaces based on contact killing. The antibacterial mechanism of nanostructured surfaces stems from the physical force exerted on the bacterial membrane while imposing lower lethality on host cells. Owing to the bactericidal ability and biocompatibility, mechano-bactericidal approaches have become desirable in designing antibacterial surfaces for orthopedic implants. In this review, the latest advances in mechano-bactericidal strategies are described by discussing three commercial orthopedic materials approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration: titanium, magnesium, and polyether-ether-ketone. The recent developments and requirements of these three types of biomaterials are presented, and the feasibility and future directions of mechano-bactericidal surfaces are discussed. © 2024 The Authors. Advanced Materials Interfaces published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.