Assessment of the Cytocompatibility of Poly-(N-hexylvinylpyridinium) Used as an Antibacterial Implant Coating

Medical implants made of titanium have a wide variety of applications, ranging from replacement of a single tooth to extraoral maxillofacial prosthetic rehabilitation or hip endoprosthesis. The long‐term success of such osseointegrated titanium implants is endangered by inflammation of periimplant hard or soft tissues caused by a bacterial infection. Therefore, implants should ideally inhibit bacterial adhesion and growth, but allows strong attachment of connective tissues or epithelium at the same time. Antimicrobial polymers like poly(vinyl‐N‐hexylpyridinium bromide) (hexyl‐PVP) are a promising approach as implant coatings to inhibit bacterial adhesion, but little is known about the biocompatibility of these polymers. The aim of the present study was to develop a method for evaluation of the cell acceptance of hexyl‐PVP or copolymers of vinyl‐N‐hexylpyridinium bromide and (4‐vinylbenzyl)phosphonic acid diethylester (poly((hexyl‐VP)‐co‐VBP)) as coating on titanium disks. Primary human gingival fibroblasts were used and biocompatibility was assessed by cell adhesion and proliferation. The cell morphology of the fibroblasts on these surfaces was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and was used as additional criterion. The results indicate no significant differences in adhesion or proliferation rate between primary human gingival fibroblasts seeded on polymer‐coated titanium disks and uncoated titanium disks as a control. Although SEM micrographs displayed moderate differences in cell morphology between the two groups, application of hexyl‐PVP or the corresponding copolymers as antibacterial coatings for medical implants or devices appears to be promising. In this study, the cytocompatibility of poly(vinyl‐N‐hexylpyridinium bromide) and copolymers of vinyl‐N‐hexylpyridinium bromide and (4‐vinylbenzyl)phosphonic acid diethylester as antibacterial implant coatings was assessed by adhesion and proliferation analysis of human gingival fibroblasts using lactate dehydrogenase activity. In addition, cell morphology of fibroblasts was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy.