Construction of an HBPL antibacterial coating on a phase-transition lysozyme-modified titanium surface

Abstract

Background: In the field of dental implantation, titanium and its alloys serve as primary materials for implants due to their excellent biocompatibility. However, their insufficient antibacterial properties remain a critical limitation. Bacterial adhesion and subsequent biofilm formation on titanium alloy implant surfaces can trigger peri-implant inflammation, potentially leading to severe complications such as implant failure. To address this challenge, we developed a novel surface modification strategy that endows implants with dual functionality of antibacterial activity and enhanced cellular adhesion, thereby proposing a new approach for preventing and managing peri-implantitis. Methods: A layer-by-layer (LbL) self-assembly technique was employed to construct polyelectrolyte coatings composed of hyperbranched polylysine (HBPL) and hyaluronic acid (HA) on phase-transitioned lysozyme (PTL)-modified titanium surfaces. The surface characteristics were systematically investigated through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS). Antibacterial efficacy was evaluated by monitoring bacterial viability and morphological alterations. Cytocompatibility assessments and molecular biological investigations were conducted to examine cellular responses and osteogenesis-related gene expression. Results: A novel polyelectrolyte coating with favorable biocompatibility and antibacterial properties was successfully fabricated on PTL-modified titanium surfaces. This coating demonstrated significant antimicrobial effects while concurrently promoting osteogenic differentiation to a certain extent. Conclusion: This study presents a dual-functional implant surface coating with combined antibacterial and osteogenic-enhancing capabilities. The developed strategy provides new insights for clinical surface modification of dental implants and offers a promising solution for peri-implantitis prevention and treatment.