Functionalization of an experimental Ti-Nb-Zr-Ta alloy with a biomimetic coating produced by plasma electrolytic oxidation

This study developed an experimental quaternary titanium (Ti) alloy and evaluated its surface properties and electrochemical stability. The viability for a biofunctional surface treatment was also tested. Ti-35Nb-7Zr-5Ta (wt%) alloy was developed from pure metals. Commercially pure titanium (cpTi) and Ti-6Al-4V were used as controls. All groups had two surface conditions: untreated (machined surface) and modified by plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) (treated surface). The experimental alloy was successfully synthesized and exhibited β microstructure. PEO treatment created a porous surface with increased roughness, surface free energy, hardness and electrochemical stability (p < 0.05). For the machined surfaces, the Ti-Nb-Zr-Ta alloy presented the lowest hardness and elastic modulus (p < 0.05) and displayed greater polarization resistance relative to cpTi. Only PEO-treated cpTi and Ti-Al-V alloys exhibited anatase and rutile as crystalline structures. The β experimental Ti-Nb-Zr-Ta alloy seems to be a good alternative for the manufacture of dental implants, since it presents elastic modulus closer to that of bone, feasibility for surface treatment, electrochemical stability and absence of toxic elements77010381048FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO - FAPESP2016/11470-6; 2017/01320-0This work was supported by the São Paulo State Research Foundation (FAPESP), Brazil (grant numbers 2016/11470-6 and 2017/01320-0). The authors express their gratitude to Jamille Altheman for her contribution and support at the Laboratory of Technological Plasmas at Univ. Estadual Paulista (UNESP), to Dr Richard Landers and Rita Vinhas from the University of Campinas (Institute of Physics Gleb Wataghin) for providing the XPS facility, to Dr Mathew T Mathew from the University of Illinois at Rockford (College of Medicine at Rockford, Department of Biomedical Sciences) for the donation of the electrochemical cell, and to the Brazilian Nanotechnology National Laboratory (LNNano) at the Brazilian Center of Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM) for the XRD facilit

Visible-light-induced photocatalytic and antibacterial activity of TiO2 codoped with nitrogen and bismuth: new perspectives to control implant-biofilm-related diseases

Biofilm-associated diseases are one of the main causes of implant failure. Currently, the development of process and focuses on the creation of surfaces with implant surface treatment goes beyond the osseointegration antimicrobial action and with the possibility to be re-activated (i.e., light source activation). Titanium dioxide (TiO2), an excellent photocatalyst used for photocatalytic antibacterial applications, could be a great alternative, but its efficiency is limited to the ultraviolet (UV) range of the electromagnetic spectrum. Since UV radiation has carcinogenic potential, we created a functional TiO2 coating codoped with nitrogen and bismuth via the plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) of titanium to achieve an antibacterial effect under visible light with re-activation potential. A complex surface topography was demonstrated by scanning electron microscopy and three-dimensional confocal laser scanning microscopy. Additionally, PEO-treated surfaces showed greater hydrophilicity and albumin adsorption compared to control, untreated titanium. Bismuth incorporation shifted the band gap of TiO2 to the visible region and facilitated higher degradation of methyl orange (MO) in the dark, with a greater reduction in the concentration of MO after visible-light irradiation even after 72 h of aging. These results were consistent with the in vitro antibacterial effect, where samples with nitrogen and bismuth in their composition showed the greatest bacterial reduction after 24 h of dual-species biofilm formation (Streptococcus sanguinis and Actinomyces naeslundii) in darkness with a superior effect at 30 min of visible-light irradiation. In addition, such a coating presents reusable photocatalytic potential and good biocompatibility by presenting a noncytotoxicity effect on human gingival fibroblast cells. Therefore, nitrogen and bismuth incorporation into TiO2 via PEO can be considered a promising alternative for dental implant application with antibacterial properties in darkness, with a stronger effect after visible-light application11201818618202COORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DE PESSOAL DE NÍVEL SUPERIOR - CAPESFUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO - FAPESPsem informação2017/00314-6; 2017/01320-0; 2016/11470-6This study was financed by the State of Sao Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) (grant numbers 2017/00314-6, 2017/01320-0 and 2016/11470-6) and the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior—Brasil (CAPES)—Finance Code 001. We thank the Oral Biochemistry Lab at Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas, for providing their microbiology facility and the Brazilian Nanotechnology National Laboratory (LNNano) at the Brazilian Center of Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM) for the CLSM, XPS, and XRD facilities. We also thank Professor Dr Ricardo Armini Caldas for his contribution to the elaboration of a table of contents graphic desig