IIT Mandi Reinvents Implant Safety With Revolutionary Anti-Bacterial Coating

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Mandi (IIT Mandi) have shown a novel way to reduce the risk of infections associated with medical implants, a persistent issue. By using cutting-edge sugar-coated nanosheets as implant coatings, a team led by Dr. Amit Jaiswal, Associate Professor, School of Biosciences and Bioengineering, IIT Mandi, has developed a creative remedy for infections linked to implants.

For many years, medical implants have been an essential component of reconstructive and medical procedures, acting as efficient cures for a variety of ailments. But over time, the growth of biofilms on these implants may result in recurrent infections and inflammation, which could eventually harm the tissue.

The fact that this antibacterial performance is persistent for more than 30 days without leaking from the implant surfaces is a noteworthy accomplishment of this research. Furthermore, both in-vitro and in-vivo testing have shown that MCP-coated implants are completely safe, causing neither acute nor sub-chronic toxicity in mammalian cells.

In a mouse model of implant-associated infection, the MCP coating has proven its capacity to stop Staphylococcus aureus from colonising on stainless steel implants. This innovation offers an easy-to-use, safe, and very powerful antibacterial coating that has the potential to completely transform implant-associated infection control.
To move it ahead for clinical trials, the researchers are in talks with orthopaedic hospitals.