Shape Matters: Engineering the Next Generation of Bone Graft Surfaces
Apr 01, 2026
Members of BAMBBI have recently published a new study in Nano Today on the design of "smart" bone grafts. By mastering the art of biomineralization-inspired tuning, our researchers have successfully isolated the effects of surface shape from material composition. For the first time, the team compared titanium and calcium phosphate nanostructures, proving that the physical "nanoscape" of an implant can be just as deadly to bacteria as the material itself.
Postdoc researcher Jan Grzelak (et al.) have just published the a new study in Elsevier's journal Nano Today (Volume 69, 2026, 103047).
In this work, the team systematically investigated the potential for fine-tuning the nanoscale topographies of calcium-deficient hydroxyapatite (CDHA) surfaces by methodically varying the reaction conditions during the hydrolysis of α-tricalcium phosphate. They also engineered nanostructures with diverse morphologies, spanning a broad range of dimensions.
Importantly, this work provides the first direct comparison of bactericidal responses on analogous nanotopographies fabricated from two clinically relevant materials for bone applications, titanium and calcium phosphate. Across both systems, nanostructured surfaces exhibited pronounced bactericidal activity against P. aeruginosa, underscoring the critical role of topography and mechanical properties in driving bacterial killing. By contrast, S. aureus showed no evident membrane disruption, although a marked reduction in metabolic activity suggests the involvement of indirect, non-lytic pathways of bactericidal action.
Read the full paper: J. Grzelak, J.Y. Yoon, I. Bueso-Inchausti, A. Cloeren, M.P. Ginebra. Biomineralization-inspired tuning of hydroxyapatite nanostructures: Decoupling topography and material effects on antimicrobial properties. Nano Today, Volume 69, 2026, 103047. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nantod.2026.103047. OPEN ACCESS.
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