Gallium-Doped Hydroxyapatite Shows Antibacterial Activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa without Affecting Cell Metabolic Activity

Calcium phosphates (CaPs) have been used in bone regeneration for decades. Among the described CaPs, synthetic hydroxyapatite (HAp) has a chemical composition similar to that of natural bone. Gallium-containing compounds have been studied since the 1970s for the treatment of autoimmune diseases and have shown beneficial properties, such as antibacterial activity and inhibition of osteoclast activity. In this study, we synthesized hydroxyapatite (HAp) powder with Ga doping ratios up to 6.9 +/- 0.5 wt% using the wet chemical precipitation method. The obtained products were characterized using XRD, BET, FTIR, and ICP-MS. Ga3+ ion release was determined in the cell culture media for up to 30 days. Antibacterial activity was assessed against five bacterial species: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Streptococcus pyogenes. The biocompatibility of the GaHAp samples was determined in human fibroblasts (hTERT-BJ1) through direct and indirect tests. The structure of the synthesized products was characteristic of HAp, as revealed with XRD and FTIR, although the addition of Ga caused a decrease in the crystallite size. Ga3+ was released from GaHAp paste in a steady manner, with approximately 40% being released within 21 days. GaHAp with the highest gallium contents, 5.5 +/- 0.1 wt% and 6.9 +/- 0.5 wt%, inhibited the growth of all five bacterial species, with the greatest activity being against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Biocompatibility assays showed maintained cell viability (similar to 80%) after seven days of indirect exposure to GaHAp. However, when GaHAp with Ga content above 3.3 +/- 0.4 wt% was directly applied on the cells, a decrease in metabolic activity was observed on the seventh day. Overall, these results show that GaHAp with Ga content below 3.3 +/- 0.4 wt% has attractive antimicrobial properties, without affecting the cell metabolic activity, creating a material that could be used for bone regeneration and prevention of infection.