Switchable antimicrobial materials

With a growing number of medical implants on a global scale, issues such as their successful integration into the human body and implant-associated infections are becoming more relevant. Our project focuses on the development of switchable antimicrobial materials through physical and materials-based mechanisms such as nanostructured surfaces or micromechanical stimulation (switching), thereby preventing early microbial adhesion and promoting favorable bone cell responses.

This project investigates antibiotic-free strategies for antimicrobial implant surfaces that also support osseointegration. Ti-6Al-4V surfaces are nanostructured by alkaline etching and characterized with regard to topography, surface chemistry, oxide formation, morphology, and wetting behavior. Different surface topographies are studied to understand how nanoscale structure and chemistry affect biological interactions. In parallel, the transfer of these nanostructures to other implant-relevant materials is explored. The materials are tested with relevant microorganisms, bone-related cells, and co-culture models under different conditions. The project also contributes to the development of a 3D bone model to better mimic the implant environment. The overall goal is to develop switchable implant surfaces that reduce early bacterial adhesion without compromising cellular integration.

A: Schematic illustration of how nanoadhesion points work. Reproduced with permission. 2026, Khalatbarizamanpoor et al. (https://doi.org/10.1002/smsc.70348) under license CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). B: SEM (top) and AFM (bottom) images of polished, untreated (left) and etched, nanostructured (right) Ti-Al-4V surfaces. For the SEM images, cross-sections were milled using an FIB system. Adapted with permission. 2026, Khalatbarizamanpoor et al. (https://doi.org/10.1002/smsc.70348) under license CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Image: Adrian Nowotnick

Research Highlight

A key finding is that tailored nanostructuring of Ti-6Al-4V modifies surface morphology, near-surface chemistry, oxide formation, and hydrophilicity and can reduce early adhesion of different bacterial strains. Current developments extend this concept toward other materials, more complex 3D bone-related models, and co-culture experiments combining bacteria and bone cells under controlled conditions.

Related Publications

Khalatbarizamanpoor, S., Nowotnick, A.G., Lippmann, S., Häder, A., Otto, F., Raupach, L., Fritz, T., Reisser, Y., Bossert, J., Löffler, B., and Jandt, K.D. (2026)
Nanostructured Ti–6Al–4V Reduces Adhesion of Several Bacterial Species: An In Vitro Study
Small Science 6, e70348. https://doi.org/10.1002/smsc.70348External link

Nowotnick, A.G., Khalatbarizamanpoor, S., Löffler, B., and Jandt, K.D. (2026)
On-demand bioglass nanoparticle release from nanoporous Ti-6Al-4V for antimicrobial implant surfaces Proc. SPIE 13946, Active and Passive Smart Structures and Integrated Systems XX, 1394607. https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3110361External link

Erenay, B., Özcolak, B., Öztatli, H., Erkoc-Biradli, F.Z., Jandt, K.D., and Garipcan, B. (2025)
Engineering a platform combining decellularized ECM and native bone surface topography for investigating osteoblastic function
Biomed. Mater. 21, 015006. https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-605X/ae2558External link

Nowotnick, A.G., Xi, Z., Jin, Z., Khalatbarizamanpoor, S., Brauer, D.S., Löffler, B., and Jandt, K.D. (2024)
Antimicrobial Biomaterials Based on Physical and Physicochemical Action
Adv. Healthcare Mater. 2402001. https://doi.org/10.1002/adhm.202402001External link

Özcolak, B., Erenay, B., Odabaş, S., Jandt, K.D., and Garipcan, B. (2024)
Effects of bone surface topography and chemistry on macrophage polarization
Sci. Rep. 14, 12721. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-62484-3External link

Project Team

Prof. Dr. Klaus D. Jandt
Friedrich Schiller University Jena · Material Science de
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Prof. Dr. Bettina Löffler
Jena University Hospital · Medical MicrobiologyExternal link
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Sadaf Khalatbarizamanpoor
Jena University Hospital · Medical MicrobiologyExternal link
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Adrian Nowotnick
Friedrich Schiller University Jena · Material Science de
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Lena Raupach
Jena University Hospital · Medical MicrobiologyExternal link
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Ernst Albert Weiß
Friedrich Schiller University Jena · Material Science de
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PD Dr. Stefanie Deinhardt-Emmer
Jena University Hospital · Medical MicrobiologyExternal link
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