Biological and antibacterial properties of chitosan-based coatings with AgNPs and CuNPs obtained on oxidized Ti13Zr13Nb titanium alloy

Abstract

Despite numerous studies, the antibacterial efficiency and cytotoxicity of chitosan-based coatings with nanometals need further studies. The purpose of this research was to determine the biological properties of chitosan coatings implemented with either silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) or copper nanoparticles (CuNPs), that were electrophoretically deposited on electrochemically oxidized Ti13Zr13Nb alloy. The SEM tests were used to examine the surface uniformity. The biological tests against human osteoblast cells hFOB 1.19 and antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli bacteria were performed. The release of Cu2+ from coating dependent on the pH of medium. The highest was at pH 3.0 and it achieved 47.73 mg/ml. No cytotoxic effects of the chitosan-AgNPs coatings were observed in direct and indirect contact studies, as there was 20 % inhibition of cell growth but no LDH release which indicate the cell breakdown. Antibacterial properties were proven for all modifications, but this effect was stronger for coatings with implemented AgNPs (log degree of bacteria number reduction >3.75 for E. coli and S. aureus).