Preventing infections in joint replacements

Epidemiological studies estimate that 15 percent of the world population is affected by osteoarthritis, a chronic disease involving the joints, especially the hip and knees. Due to demographic changes the incidence of osteoarthritis is rapidly increasing. And so are the numbers of infections in joint prosthesis. Adding to the problem is the fact that more and more bacteria are becoming resistant to antibiotics.

Biomechanical engineer Dr. Bogdan Stefan Necula believes he has found a way to prevent infectious bacteria from growing on the implant surface. For his Phd research, which he defended in November at the MMME faculty, he developed a technique to add silver nanoparticles to the titanium prosthesis substrate.

If the correct amount is added, the silver is toxic only for the bacteria and not for the human tissue. Though the preliminary results seem promising, a follow up study has yet to prove whether this is also the case in the long run.