Abstract:

Micro-arc oxidized Cu-incorporated TiO₂ coatings (CueTiO₂) were prepared in the Ca, P, Cu-containing electrolyte to obtain an implant material with superior biological activity and antibacterial property. The surface topography, phase, and element composition of the TiO₂ and CueTiO₂ coatings were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS), respectively. Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) was selected to evaluate the antibacterial property of the CueTiO₂ coatings, whereas osteoblastic MG63 cells were cultured on the coatings to investigate the biological activity. The obtained results demonstrated that Cu element was successfully incorporated into the porous nano-structured TiO₂ coatings, which did not alter apparently the surface topography and phase composition of the coatings as compared to the Cu-free TiO₂ coatings. Moreover, the antibacterial studies suggested that the Cu-incorporated TiO₂ coatings could significantly inhibit the adhesion of S. aureus.In addition, the in vitro biological evaluation displayed that the adhesion, proliferation and differentiation of MG63 cells on the Cu-incorporated coatings were enhanced as compared to those on the Cu-free coatings and Ti plates. In conclusion, the innovative Cu-incorporated nano-structured TiO₂ coatings on Ti substrate with excellent antibacterial property and biological activity are promising candidates for orthopedic implant.

Key words: Micro-arc oxidation, Copper, Biological activity, Antibacterial property