Polarized piezoelectric bioceramic composites exhibit antibacterial activity

Electric charge is produced under the action of stress in a piezoelectric material. For enhanced bone growth and faster healing, biological piezoelectric materials can be effectively used. Since human bone has inherent electric charge for which it acts as a piezoelectric material, the substitutes of bone such as filler, cement or implant materials have attracted researchers in the field of biomedicine to investigate on effect of electrically active materials on bone growth. In this study, positively charged hydroxyapatite – barium titanate composites showed antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa with remarkable inhibition zone and moreover Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy confirmed the reduction of cell counts in polarized samples from qualitative and antibacterial rate percentage reduction studies. These bactericidal and bacteria repelling action may be attributed to the positively polarized surface of the hydroxyapatite – barium titanate composites that rupture the bacteria membrane during culture.