Incorporation of antibacterial ions on the micro/nanostructured surface and its effects on the corrosion behavior of titanium

Abstract

The hierarchical micro/nanostructure has been proved to improve the integration of an implant and its surrounding bone tissue. However, excellent antibacterial properties and good corrosion resistance are also important to increase the success rates of implants. Therefore, in this paper, the micro/nanostructure containing antibacterial ions (silver, copper and zinc ions) was fabricated on the surface of titanium by the combination of sandblasting, acid etching, alkali-heat treatment, and ion exchange. And the corrosion resistance was evaluated by polarization curve test. The results demonstrated that the more active metal ions on the surface of micro/nanostructured titanium were, the worse the corrosion resistance was. Nevertheless, compared to polished titanium, the corrosion current of micro/nanostructured titanium with antibacterial ions was increased due to the effect of surface topography and chemical composition. This study provides a promising insight into the antimicrobial design of titanium surfaces in the future.