Implant-associated infections are a frequent complication of surgeries involving biomaterial implants. Staphylococcus and Enterococcus species are the leading causes of infections linked to bone-anchored and joint implants. To address this challenge, developing antibacterial coatings to prevent bacterial attachment and biofilm formation on biomaterials is critical. This study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial and antibiofilm properties of two biomaterial coatings: titanium nitride (TiN) and titanium nitride with silver nanoparticles (TiN/Ag). Antibacterial activity was tested against common biofilm-forming pathogens, including Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, and Enterococcus faecium. The results demonstrated that both coatings significantly reduced bacterial cell counts, with the TiN/Ag coating showing superior performance due to the addition of silver nanoparticles. This enhancement was particularly effective in reducing biofilm formation across all the tested strains, with the most pronounced effects observed for E. faecium and E. faecalis. The silver nanoparticles synergistically improved the antibiofilm properties of the TiN coating, efficiently disrupting biofilm integrity and reducing bacterial adhesion. By reducing bacterial attachment and biofilm formation on biomaterial surfaces, TiN/Ag coatings offer a promising strategy to minimize complications associated with biomaterial implants. These findings highlight the potential of TiN and TiN/Ag coatings for medical applications.

The global rise of antimicrobial resistance represents a major challenge to public health and highlights the urgent need for the discovery of new antibacterial agents. Xanthones, characterized by a rigid dibenzo-γ-pyrone scaffold, have emerged as promising candidates owing to their broad structural diversity and ability to interact with multiple biological targets. This review provides examples of natural, semisynthetic, and synthetic xanthone derivatives investigated for their antimicrobial potential. Natural xanthones and their structural diversity are first discussed, followed by an analysis of semisynthetic and synthetic derivatives developed to overcome the structural limitations imposed by natural biosynthetic pathways and to improve antimicrobial activity. Particular attention is devoted to structure–activity relationships, including the effects of hydroxylation, methoxylation, alkylation, halogenation, and the position of substituents on antibacterial potency. The review further critically evaluates the factors that may limit the translation of promising in vitro findings into therapeutic applications, including limited mechanistic understanding, physicochemical properties, selectivity, toxicity, and the scarcity of standardized experimental approaches. Collectively, the available evidence supports xanthone derivatives as a valuable and versatile scaffold for the development of new antimicrobial candidates, while also highlighting the substantial work required to advance these compounds toward practical therapeutic applications.