Graphene method could prevent medical implant infections

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Researchers in Sweden have developed a method of preventing bacterial infections on medical implants by covering a graphene material with bactericidal molecules.

Certain bacteria can form impenetrable biofilms on surgical implants such as dental and other orthopaedic implants. Biofilms are more resistant than other bacteria and infections can be difficult to treat, causing suffering for patients and in some cases necessitating costly replacements of implants.

Various hydrophobic drugs and molecules can be used for their antibacterial properties, but must be attached to a material to be used in the body which can be difficult to manufacture. 

Now, researchers at Chalmers University of Technology said they have  succeeded in binding water-insoluble antibacterial molecules to graphene and having the molecules release from the material in a ‘controlled, continuous’ manner. 

Santosh Pandit, first author of the study and researcher at Chalmers’ Department of Biology and Biological Engineering, said that this is an essential requirement for the method, describing the process as ‘very simple’ with potential for easy integration into industrial processes.

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