Antibacterial Effect of Hydroxyapatite and Silver

Abstract

Synthetic hydroxyapatite (Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2, HAP) is widely used in regards to orthopedic applications due to its similarity to the mineral component in bone. However, while HAP aids with osseointegration it does nothing when it comes to orthopedic infections. Moreover, the prevalence of antibiotic resistance makes treatment even more difficult. In view of this, adding silver to hydroxyapatite has been a focus of many studies due to the combined bioactivity of HAP and excellent antibacterial properties of Ag. The present work brings a brief introduction to more recent studies regarding the HAP-silver combination and its effect on different pathogenic strains. The effect of silver on benign cells is also discussed based on in vitro cultures and in vivo studies.