Potentiality of the plant Pseudotsuga menzietii to combat implant-related infection in the nanoregime

Abstract

Today, the most alarming problem in the biomedical arena is bacterial infection at the site of implanted medical devices, prosthetics and sensors. Despite aseptic measures and sterilisation procedures microbial infection poses a major impediment and a big question mark to the utility of biomaterials. Therefore, in this nanoregime, we have attempted to bring forth antimicrobial, self-sterilising silver/chitosan bionanocomposite which can indubitably be used for coating of medical implants and surgical devices. Herbal route employing leaves of the plant Pseudotsuga menzietii, the Christmas tree, has been implicated for the formation of silver nanoparticles. For the first time, this plant has been involved for the biosynthesis of nanoparticles and to mitigate the menace of implant associated infection. To investigate the formation of silver nanoparticles and the development of bionanocomposite, several characterisation techniques have been used like UV/visible spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, FT-IR spectroscopy, etc. together with antimicrobial analysis. Thus, in a cost effective way we have strived to develop a winning strategy to conquer implant-related infection. © 2012 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.