New publication on an antibiotic-free strategy for enhancing the long-term success of orthopedic and dental implants

PhD student Carla Arca, co-supervised by Prof. Maria-Pau Ginebra and Dr. María Godoy-Gallardo has recently published a study in the journal Bioactive Materials, introducing a multifunctional calcium phosphate material designed to mitigate bone graft failure caused by bacterial infection that helps healthy cells win the race against bacteria to attach to the implant, offering a reliable way to make dental and hip replacements last longer without needing antibiotics.

Carla's research demonstrates a synergistic "dynamic duo" approach, combining sharp surface nanotopographies with fluoride doping to physically and chemically disrupt bacterial colonization without relying on antibiotics. This method proved highly effective against pathogens such as P. aeruginosa, which is prevalent in clinical settings.

One of the most interesting and attractive parts of the results is the fact that these antimicrobial surfaces remain highly cytocompatible, supporting human bone cell growth and osteogenic differentiation. Thus, the material promotes successful tissue integration by modulating the host immune response toward a pro-healing, anti-inflammatory phenotype.  

Read the full paper: Carla Arca-Garcia, Maria Godoy-Gallardo, Maria-Pau Ginebra. Tailoring nanotopography and antibacterial properties of calcium phosphate bone grafts via fluoride incorporation. Bioactive Materials
Volume 59, May 2026, Pages 205-223. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bioactmat.2025.12.026. OPEN ACCESS.