Bioactive coating of titanium surfaces with recombinant human β-defensin-2 (rHuβD2) may prevent bacterial colonization in orthopaedic surgery.

Background: A promising strategy to prevent infections around orthopaedic titanium implants is to use naturally occurring cationic antimicrobial peptides (CAMPs) such as the human β-defensin-2 as antibacterial coatings. Human antimicrobial peptides represent a part of the innate immune system and have a broad antimicrobial spectrum against bacteria, fungi, and viruses.

Methods: In the present study, titanium surfaces were functionalized by four different self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) forming methoxy silanes: (1) hexadecyltrimethoxysilane, (2) dimethoxymethyloctylsilane, (3) allyltrimethylsilane, and (4) 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane.