Abstract
Titanium dioxide nanotubes/hydroxyapatite nanocomposites were produced on a titanium alloy (Ti6Al4V/TNT/HA) and studied as a biocompatible coating for an implant surface modification. As a novel approach for this type of nanocomposite fabrication, the atomic layer deposition (ALD) method with an extremely low number of cycles was used to enrich titania nanotubes (TNT) with a very thin hydroxyapatite coating. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used for determination of the structure and the surface morphology of the fabricated nanocoatings. The biointegration activity of the layers was estimated based on fibroblasts’ proliferation on the TNT/HA surface. The antibacterial activity was determined by analyzing the ability of the layers to inhibit bacterial colonization and biofilm formation. Mechanical properties of the Ti6Al4V/TNT/HA samples were estimated by measuring the hardness, Young’s module, and susceptibility to scratching. The results revealed that the nanoporous titanium alloy coatings enriched with a very thin hydroxyapatite layer may be a promising way to achieve the desired balance between biofunctional and biomechanical properties of modern implants.
Highlights
The growing demand for bone implants, which could replace worn bone elements or support their regeneration, is closely related to the active lifestyle of contemporary people, as well as the aging of societies
The results of previous works indicate that the formation of titania nanotube (TNT) layers on the implant surface improves its osseointegration while maintaining appropriate mechanical properties [4,5,9,10]
Hydroxyapatite deposited on TiO2 nanotubes showed higher cell density, more live cells, and better spreading of the mouse osteoblastic cell line, MC3T3-E1, as compared with an untreated titanium plate surface [58]. These findings clearly demonstrate the biocompatible properties of the studied TNT/HA coatings, which are associated with the statement that a favorable cellular interaction with the biomaterials surface is critical for the long-term success of the implants [59]
Summary
The growing demand for bone implants, which could replace worn bone elements or support their regeneration, is closely related to the active lifestyle of contemporary people, as well as the aging of societies. Numerous groups in the world have carried out intensive studies on the development of new implant technologies and have been searching for novel biomaterials for implant production, with great progress [1] The aim of these studies is the fabrication of biocompatible materials, which are characterized by non-toxicity, antimicrobial activity, and minimal impact on the immune system. Titanium and its alloys are biomaterials widely used in the implants intended for orthopaedics, dentistry, maxillofacial surgery, as well as in laryngology and cardiology [2,3]. This is due to the low toxicity of these materials, their excellent corrosion resistance, high specific surface area, as well as very good mechanical properties. The results of previous works indicate that the formation of titania nanotube (TNT) layers on the implant surface improves its osseointegration while maintaining appropriate mechanical properties [4,5,9,10]
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