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Following the secular idea of ″restitutio ad integrum″, regeneration is the pursued option to restore bones lost after a disease; accordingly, complementing antibiotic and regeneration capacity to bone grafts represents a great scientific success. This study is a framework proposal for understanding the antimicrobial effect of biocompatible nano-hydroxyapatite/MoOx(nano-HA/MoOx) platforms on the basis of their electroactive behavior. Through cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry measurements, the electron transference capacity of nano-HA and nano-HA/MoOxelectrodes was determined in the presence of pathogenic organisms: Pseudomonas aeruginosaand Staphylococcus aureus. Faradaic processes were confirmed and related to the switch of MoO42–/PO43–groups in the original hexagonal nano-HA crystal lattice and to the extent of OH vacancies that act as electron acceptors. Microscopic analysis of bacteria’s ultrastructure showed a disruptive effect on the cytoplasmic membrane upon direct contact with the materials, which is not evident in the presence of eukaryotic cells. Experiments support the existence of a type of extracellular electron transfer (EET) process that alters the function of the bacterial cytoplasmic membrane, accelerating their death. Our findings provide strong quantitative support for a drug-independent biocidal physical approach based on EET processes between microorganisms and phosphate ceramics that can be used to combat local orthopedic infections associated with implants.

Surface colonization competition between bacteria and host cells is one of the critical factors involved in tissue/implant integration. Current biomaterials are evaluated for their ability both of withstanding favorable responses of host tissue cells and of resisting bacterial contamination. In this work, the antibacterial ability of biocompatible Mg2+-substituted nanostructured hydroxyapatite (HA) was investigated. The densities of Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia colistrains were significantly decreased after culture in the presence of Mg-substituted HA materials in direct correlation with Mg2+–Ca2+switch in the HA lattice. It was noticed that this decrease was accompanied by a minimal alteration of bacterial environments; therefore, the Mg2+–HA antibacterial effect was associated with the material surface topography and it electroactive behavior. It was observed that 2.23 wt % Mg2+–HA samples exhibited the best antibacterial performance; it decreased 2-fold the initial population of E. coli, P. aeruginosa, and S. aureusat the intermediate concentration (50 mg mL–1of broth). Our results reinforce the potential of Mg–HA nanostructured materials to be used in antibacterial coatings for implantable devices and/or medicinal materials to prevent bone infection and to promote wound healing.