Antibacterial Activity of an Anodized TiNbSn Alloy Prepared in Sodium Tartrate Electrolyte

In this study, we anodized a TiNbSn alloy with low Young's modulus in an electrolyte of sodium tartrate with and without hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). The photo-induced characteristics of the anodized alloy were analyzed for crystallinity and electrochemical conditions with comparisons to the effect with the addition of H₂O₂. The antibacterial activity was evaluated using methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and other pathogenic bacteria according to ISO 27447, and time decay antibacterial tests were also conducted. The anodized oxide had a porous microstructure with anatase- and rutile-structured titanium dioxide (TiO₂). In contrast, the peaks of rutile-structured TiO₂ were accelerated in the anodized TiNbSn alloy with H₂O₂. The formation of hydroxyl radicals and methylene blue breaching performance under ultraviolet irradiation was confirmed in the anodic oxide on TiNbSn alloy with and without H₂O₂. The anodic oxide on TiNbSn alloy had a robust antibacterial activity, and no significant difference was detected with or without H₂O₂. We conclude that anodized TiNbSn alloy with sodium tartrate electrolyte may be a functional biomaterial with a low Young's modulus and an antibacterial function.