Implant-associated bacterial infections are one of the most serious complications in orthopedic surgery. Treatment of these infections often requires multiple operations, device removal, long-term systemic antibiotics, and extended rehabilitation, and is frequently ineffective, leading to worse clinical outcomes and increased financial costs. Silver nanoparticle/poly(DL-lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA)-coated stainless steel alloy (SNPSA) was evaluated as a potential antimicrobial implant material. It was found that SNPSA exhibited strong antibacterial activity in vitro and ex vivo, and promoted MC3T3-E1 pre-osteoblasts proliferation and maturation in vitro. Furthermore, SNPSA implants induced osteogenesis while suppressing bacterial survival in contaminated rat femoral canals. The results indicate that SNPSA has simultaneous antimicrobial and osteoinductive properties that make it a promising therapeutic material in orthopedic surgery.
