Northern Kentucky University
Improving the Biocompatability and Bacterial Resistance of Stainless Steel Medical Implants
Institution
Northern Kentucky University
Faculty Advisor/ Mentor
Heather Bullen
Abstract
Medical grade stainless steel (316L SS) is used in throughout the medical industry in a variety of applications including medical devices and orthopedic implants. Although 316L SS possesses strong corrosion resistance and superior mechanical properties the biocompatibility and resistance to biofouling needs to be improved. This research is aimed at modifing 316L SS and other metals using self assembled monolayers (SAMs) to reduce nonspecific adsorption. The capability of these surface modified substrates to resist bacterial adhesion of an opportunistic human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa will be presented.
Improving the Biocompatability and Bacterial Resistance of Stainless Steel Medical Implants
Medical grade stainless steel (316L SS) is used in throughout the medical industry in a variety of applications including medical devices and orthopedic implants. Although 316L SS possesses strong corrosion resistance and superior mechanical properties the biocompatibility and resistance to biofouling needs to be improved. This research is aimed at modifing 316L SS and other metals using self assembled monolayers (SAMs) to reduce nonspecific adsorption. The capability of these surface modified substrates to resist bacterial adhesion of an opportunistic human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa will be presented.