Electrochemical Strategies for Titanium Implant Polymeric Coatings: The Why and How

Among the several strategies aimed at polymeric coatings deposition on titanium (Ti) and its alloys, metals commonly used in orthopaedic and orthodontic prosthesis, electrochemical approaches have gained growing interest, thanks to their high versatility. In this review, we will present two main electrochemical procedures to obtain stable, low cost and reliable polymeric coatings: electrochemical polymerization and electrophoretic deposition. Distinction should be made between bioinert films—having mainly the purpose of hindering corrosive processes of the underlying metal—and bioactive films—capable of improving biological compatibility, avoiding inflammation or implant-associated infection processes, and so forth. However, very often, these two objectives have been pursued and achieved contemporaneously. Indeed, the ideal coating is a system in which anti-corrosion, anti-infection and osseointegration can be obtained simultaneously. The ultimate goal of all these coatings is the better control of properties and processes occurring at the titanium interface, with a special emphasis on the cell-coating interactions. Finally, advantages and drawbacks of these electrochemical strategies have been highlighted in the concluding remarks.