Fabrication of a silver nanoparticle-coated collagen membrane with anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory activities for guided bone regeneration

Alveolar bone loss is a common problem that affects dental implant placement. A barrier between the bone substitute and gingiva that can prevent fibro-tissue ingrowth, bacterial infection and induce bone formation is a key factor in improving the success of alveolar ridge reconstruction. This study aims to develop a bioactive collagen barrier material for guided bone regeneration, that is coupled with anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. We have evaluated two silver coating methods and found controllable and precise coating achieved by sonication compared with sputtering. The optimized AgNP-coated collagen membrane exhibited excellent anti-bacterial effects against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) with limited cellular toxicity. It also displayed effective anti-inflammatory effects by reducing the expression and release of inflammatory cytokines including IL-6 and TNF-alpha. Additionally, AgNP-coated collagen membranes were able to induce osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells that guide bone regeneration. These findings demonstrate the potential application of AgNP-coated collagen membranes to prevent infection after bone graft introduction in alveolar ridge reconstruction.