Surface modification of titanium substrates for enhanced osteogenetic and antibacterial properties

The insufficient osseointegration and bacterial infection of titanium and its alloys remain the key challenges in their clinic applications, which may result in failure implantation. To improve osteogenetic and antibacterial properties, TiO₂ nanotube arrays were fabricated on titanium substrates for loading of antibacterial drug. Then, TiO₂ nanotube arrays were covered with chitosan/sodium alginate multilayer films. The successful construction of this system was verified via scanning electron microscopy and contact angle measurement. The cytocompatibility evaluation in vitro, including cytoskeleton observation, cell viability measurement, and alkaline phosphatase activity assay, confirmed that the present system was capable of accelerating the growth of osteoblasts. In addition, bacterial adhesion and viability assay verified that treated Ti substrates were capable of reducing the adhesion of bacteria. This study may provide an alternative to develop titanium-based implants for enhanced bone osseointegration and reduced bacterial infection.