Antimicrobial and anti-adhesive properties of carbon nanotube-based surfaces for medical applications: a systematic review

Rita Teixeira-Santos; Marisa Gomes; Luciana C Gomes; Filipe J Mergulhão

doi:10.1016/j.isci.2020.102001

Antimicrobial and anti-adhesive properties of carbon nanotube-based surfaces for medical applications: a systematic review

iScience. 2020 Dec 29;24(1):102001. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2020.102001. eCollection 2021 Jan 22.

Authors

Rita Teixeira-Santos¹, Marisa Gomes¹, Luciana C Gomes¹, Filipe J Mergulhão¹

Affiliation

¹ LEPABE - Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal.

Abstract

Although high-performance carbon materials are widely used in surface engineering, with emphasis on carbon nanotubes (CNTs), the application of CNT nanocomposites on medical surfaces is poorly documented. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial and anti-adhesive properties of CNT-based surfaces. For this purpose, a PRISMA-oriented systematic review was conducted based on predefined criteria and 59 studies were selected for the qualitative analysis. Results from the analyzed studies suggest that surfaces containing modified CNTs, and specially CNTs conjugated with different polymers, exhibited strong antimicrobial and anti-adhesive activities. These composites seem to preserve the CNT toxicity to microorganisms and promote CNT-cell interactions, as well as to protect them from nonspecific protein adsorption. However, CNTs cannot yet compete with the conventional strategies to fight biofilms as their toxicity profile on the human body has not been thoroughly addressed. This review can be helpful for the development of new engineered medical surfaces.

Keywords: Microfilms; Surface Science.

Publication types

Review