J Reconstr Microsurg 2022; 38(01): 047-055
DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1729881
Original Article

Hierarchical Ceramic Coating Reduces Adherence of Cells, Blood, Bacteria, and Tissue on Titanium Microsurgical Instruments

Henriette Jaurich*
1   Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, BG University Hospital Bergmannsheil, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
,
Mustafa Becerikli*
1   Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, BG University Hospital Bergmannsheil, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
,
Jörg Zerrer
2   ELB – Eloxalwerk Ludwigsburg Helmut Zerrer GmbH, Ludwigsburg, Germany
,
Christoph Wallner
1   Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, BG University Hospital Bergmannsheil, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
,
Johannes M. Wagner
1   Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, BG University Hospital Bergmannsheil, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
,
Mehran Dadras
1   Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, BG University Hospital Bergmannsheil, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
,
Birger Jettkant
3   Department of General and Trauma Surgery, BG University Hospital Bergmannsheil, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
,
Thomas A. Schildhauer
3   Department of General and Trauma Surgery, BG University Hospital Bergmannsheil, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
,
Marcus Lehnhardt
1   Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, BG University Hospital Bergmannsheil, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
,
Ole Jung*
4   Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Head- and Neurocentrum, University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
,
Björn Behr*
1   Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, BG University Hospital Bergmannsheil, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
› Author Affiliations
Funding This study was funded by German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, grant: 4048801CK5.

Abstract

Background Progress in the field of microsurgery allows more detailed reconstructions of the smallest tissue structures. The applied instruments are left with biological residues after coming into contact with body fluids or tissue, leading to compromised surgical precision. Designing of residue-free innovative instruments would reduce the necessity of subsidiary practices and would improve the surgical precision.

Methods We designed a ceramic coating (Lotus ceramic coating system 26—LCC-26) that exhibits self-cleaning surface properties on coated titanium specimens. A titanium surface was modified by blasting technology and electropolishing, followed by applying a high-performance ceramic and sol-gel finish layer. The physical surface characterization was performed by scanning electron microscopy and measuring the contact angle. The cell-repellent properties and cytotoxicity were investigated using live-dead staining, BrdU, and lactate dehydrogenase assay. Furthermore, bacterial and fluid-adhesion tests were performed. Finally, blood compatibility was analyzed according to DIN ISO 10993.

Results The composite system LCC-26 increased the hydrophobic character of the titanium surface (the water contact angle of 74.9 degrees was compared with 62.7 degrees of the uncoated native titanium; p < 0.01) and led to the fluid and cell-repellent properties shown by the reduction in fibroblast adherence by ∼50.7% (p < 0.05), the reduction in Staphylococcus aureus pathogen colonization by 74.1% (p < 0.001), and the decrease in erythrocyte adherence by 62.9% (p < 0.01). Furthermore, the LCC-26 coated titanium microforceps dipped in human whole blood exhibited blood-repellent character (reduction in blood adherence by 46.1%; p < 0.05). Additionally, cyto- and hemocompatibility was guaranteed in direct and indirect tests.

Conclusion Titanium surface modification on surgical instruments exhibits cell, bacteria, and blood-repellent properties with a full guarantee of cyto- and hemocompatibility. Thus, innovatively coated instruments could contribute to increased precision during microsurgical interventions and optimized medical operation routines in the future.

* These authors contributed equally to this work.


Supplementary Material



Publication History

Received: 27 November 2020

Accepted: 28 March 2021

Article published online:
21 June 2021

© 2021. Thieme. All rights reserved.

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