Cu-decorated graphene oxide coatings with enhanced antibacterial activity for surface modification of implant

Recently, graphene oxide (GO)-based materials have shown great potential as coatings for implant surfaces owing to their biocompatibility, surface functionalisation, and antibacterial activity. However, there is some disagreement regarding the antibacterial effect of GO, particularly when GO is used in the form of coatings. In this study, for the first time, we demonstrate the synthesis of copper-decorated GO (GO-Cu) coatings using a spin coating and chemical in-situ method. The growth of Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) on GO-Cu and pure GO coatings was compared via systematic antibacterial study. The results showed that both E. coli and S. aureus grew well on the pure GO coating, but their growth was significantly inhibited on the GO-Cu coating. In addition, bone mesenchymal stem cell (BMSC) adhesion, viability, and proliferation tests indicated that the two GO-based coatings did not show obvious toxicity compared with the SiO2 control. The combined antibacterial performance and good biocompatibility of the GO-Cu coatings indicates their significant potential for application in biomedical implants.

Automated summary

This research demonstrates the synthesis of copper-decorated GO coatings and their significant antibacterial effect on Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Additionally, the study shows good biocompatibility of the GO-Cu coatings, indicating their potential application in biomedical implants.