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Incorporating nanoparticles into scaffolds with regenerative potential is a promissory strategy to provide them with antimicrobial activity. Bioceramics, such as β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) and bioactive glasses (BGs), stand out among synthetic materials for bone regeneration. In this context, we report the incorporation of zinc oxide (ZnO) and copper oxide/copper nitrate (CuO/Cu2H3NO5) nanoparticles onto the surface of the β-TCP/BG scaffolds. This report addresses the physicochemical characterization of the scaffolds, their antimicrobial activity, and their response to MC3T3-E1 cells. Our findings show that the incorporation of both nanoparticles effectively inhibited S. aureus growth, including its biofilm formation. While the presence of the nanoparticles initially decreased MC3T3-E1 cell viability, cell proliferation improved with prolonged incubation. Overall, the β-TCP/BG_Zn and β-TCP/BG_Cu scaffolds showed an early antimicrobial response, aiding infection eradication, while also supporting cell proliferation over time.

Molybdates are biocidal materials that can be useful in coating surfaces that are susceptible to contamination and the spread of microorganisms. The aim of this work was to investigate the effects of copper doping of hydrated cobalt molybdate, synthesized by the co-precipitation method, on its antibacterial activity and to elucidate the structural and morphological changes caused by the dopant in the material. The synthesized materials were characterized by PXRD, Fourier Transformed Infrared (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis/differential scanning calorimetry (TG/DSC), and SEM-Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). The antibacterial response of the materials was verified using the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) employing the broth microdilution method. The size of the CoMoO4·1.03H2O microparticles gradually increased as the percentage of copper increased, decreasing the energy that is needed to promote the transition from the hydrated to the beta phase and changing the color of material. CoMoO4·1.03H2O obtained better bactericidal performance against the tested strains of Staphylococcus aureus (gram-positive) than Escherichia coli (gram-negative). However, an interesting point was that the use of copper as a doping agent for hydrated cobalt molybdate caused an increase of MIC value in the presence of E. coli and S. aureus strains. The study demonstrates the need for caution in the use of copper as a doping material in biocidal matrices, such as cobalt molybdate.