Modification of titanium implants using biofunctional nanodiamonds for enhanced antimicrobial properties
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Updated: Sep 21, 2026

Fabrication of Mechanically Tunable and Bioactive Metal Scaffolds for Biomedical Applications
Published on: December 8, 2015
Emilia Krok1, Sascha Balakin, Jonas Jung
1Bio- and Nanotechnology, Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems IKTS Material Diagnostics, Dresden, Germany. Biotechnology Center (BIOTEC) of Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany. Poznań University of Technology, Faculty of Physics, Institute of Molecular Physics, Poznań, Poland.
Abstract:
The present study describes a novel antimicrobial surface using anodic oxidation of titanium and biofunctional detonation nanodiamonds (ND). ND have been loaded with antibiotics (amoxicillin or ampicillin) using poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDDA). Successful conjugation with PDDA was determined by dynamic light scattering, which showed increase in the hydrodynamic diameter of ND agglomerates and shift of zeta potential towards positive values. The surface loading of amoxicillin was determined using UV-vis spectroscopy and the maximum of 44% surface loading was obtained. Biofunctional ND were immobilized by anodic oxidation within a titanium oxide layer, which was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy. The in vitro antimicrobial properties of ND suspensions were examined using Kirby-Bauer test with E. coli. Modified titanium surfaces comprising biofunctional ND were evaluated with E. coli inoculum by live/dead assay staining. Both biofunctional ND suspensions and modified titanium surfaces presented inhibition of bacteria growth and increase in bacteria lethality.

