Photoelectron Therapy Preventing the Formation of Bacterial Biofilm on Titanium Implants

The exogenous bacterial infection and formation of biofilm on the surface of titanium implants can affect the adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation of cells associated with osteogenesis, ultimately leading to surgical failure. This study focuses on two critical stages for biofilm formation: i) bacterial adhesion and aggregation, ii) growth and proliferation. The titanium with well-organized titania nanotube arrays is first modified by nitrogen dopants, then loaded with CuFeSe2 nanoparticles to form a p-n heterojunction. Such heterojunction can effectively separate the electrons and holes generated by CuFeSe2 under NIR excitation, where CuFeSe2 serves as an electron acceptor from adherent bacteria, thus disrupting the respiratory chain and eventually affecting the metabolism. Combined with the released ions in solution and photothermal effect, the formation of bacterial biofilm on the surface of titanium implants is prevented on both stages.