Graphene spikes kill bacteria to reduce risk of implant rejection

The vertical graphene flakes, being developed by a team of researchers at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden, have been shown to kill bacteria on impact, in research published in the journal Advanced Materials Interfaces.

When added to the surface of implants, they could stop bacterial infections during surgery, which in some severe cases can prevent the devices from attaching to the human bone effectively.

Bacteria travel around the body in blood and other fluids, looking for a surface to cling to. Once they find a suitable surface, such as an implant, they start to propagate, forming a biofilm.

But adding a layer of vertical graphene flakes to the surface prevents the bacteria from forming this biofilm, according to Jie Sun, Associate Professor at the Department of Micro Technology and Nanoscience, Chalmers University of Technology.

This could eliminate the need for antibiotics, and reduce the risk of implant rejection.

“The vertical graphene acts like a knife, it will cut into the bacteria and kill it,” said Sun.