Mentha piperita essential oil is a complex mixture of different natural biomolecules with proven antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, fungi and viruses [1] and it has been widely used in folk medicine for various applications. Despite its increasing use in phytotherapy, application of peppermint essential oil in medicine is still quite scarce and almost no research work considers its application in combination with biomaterials. On the other hand, the possibility to employ the antibacterial properties of this essential oil together with its low resistance development risk and its low toxicity is a challenging approach for the development of smart biomaterials for prosthetic applications. The aim of the work is to combine the antibacterial properties of peppermint essential oil with those of bioactive titanium alloy for applications in which good osteointegrability and antimicrobial effects are required. The peppermint essential oil was used for the surface modification of Ti6Al4V made bioactive with a patented chemical treatment [2,3]. Different concentrations of peppermint essential oil in Ethanol (20-100%) were considered for the treatment. The obtained samples were characterized by means of XPS and FTIR analyses, wettability tests, z potential measurements and antibacterial tests. XPS analyses evidenced a significant increase in the carbon content for the surface modified samples as well as a peculiar modification of the high resolution spectra of the oxygen region. FTIR analyses highlight the presence of three peaks (2950, 2920 and 2870 cm-1), attributable to chelate compounds: primary alcohols, Aliphatic -CH3 and -CH2 stretching, O-H and C-O stretching characteristic of the organic compounds in essential oils, on the modified Ti6Al4V alloy. The wettability tests show a reduction of the wettability after the modification with the peppermint essential that could be related to the antibacterial effect. Z potential highlight a shift of the isoelectric point to a less acidic value and the appearance of a plateau in the basic region after the surface functionalization process. The antibacterial tests shows a reduction of the adherent bacteria on the surfaces.In conclusion, the research work shows the great potential of the use of peppermint essential oil for surface functionalization of biomaterials with enhanced antibacterial properties. Furthermore, the use of the Mentha piperita oil of Pancalieri is consistent with the European policy of exploitation of the local regional natural resources (Piedmont) .
Surface functionalization of chemically treated Ti6Al4V alloy with mentha piperita essential oil
M Cazzola;V Allizond;G Banche;CM Bertea;
2017-01-01
Abstract
Mentha piperita essential oil is a complex mixture of different natural biomolecules with proven antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, fungi and viruses [1] and it has been widely used in folk medicine for various applications. Despite its increasing use in phytotherapy, application of peppermint essential oil in medicine is still quite scarce and almost no research work considers its application in combination with biomaterials. On the other hand, the possibility to employ the antibacterial properties of this essential oil together with its low resistance development risk and its low toxicity is a challenging approach for the development of smart biomaterials for prosthetic applications. The aim of the work is to combine the antibacterial properties of peppermint essential oil with those of bioactive titanium alloy for applications in which good osteointegrability and antimicrobial effects are required. The peppermint essential oil was used for the surface modification of Ti6Al4V made bioactive with a patented chemical treatment [2,3]. Different concentrations of peppermint essential oil in Ethanol (20-100%) were considered for the treatment. The obtained samples were characterized by means of XPS and FTIR analyses, wettability tests, z potential measurements and antibacterial tests. XPS analyses evidenced a significant increase in the carbon content for the surface modified samples as well as a peculiar modification of the high resolution spectra of the oxygen region. FTIR analyses highlight the presence of three peaks (2950, 2920 and 2870 cm-1), attributable to chelate compounds: primary alcohols, Aliphatic -CH3 and -CH2 stretching, O-H and C-O stretching characteristic of the organic compounds in essential oils, on the modified Ti6Al4V alloy. The wettability tests show a reduction of the wettability after the modification with the peppermint essential that could be related to the antibacterial effect. Z potential highlight a shift of the isoelectric point to a less acidic value and the appearance of a plateau in the basic region after the surface functionalization process. The antibacterial tests shows a reduction of the adherent bacteria on the surfaces.In conclusion, the research work shows the great potential of the use of peppermint essential oil for surface functionalization of biomaterials with enhanced antibacterial properties. Furthermore, the use of the Mentha piperita oil of Pancalieri is consistent with the European policy of exploitation of the local regional natural resources (Piedmont) .
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