Surface modification of Ti6Al4V by micro-arc oxidation in AgC₂H₃O₂-containing electrolyte

This study focuses on the biological properties of Ti6Al4V after employing micro-arc oxidation in sodium phosphate- and calcium acetate-containing electrolyte with and without addition of silver acetate. After micro-arc oxidation process, structural features of the surfaces were analyzed by using an energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer equipped scanning electron microscope, an X-ray diffractometer and a Fourier transform infrared spectroscope. The micro-arc oxidation process generated multilayer coatings composed of carbonated hydroxyapatite and titanium oxide layers, while addition of 0·001 mol/l silver acetate into the electrolyte caused incorporation of 0·7 wt.% silver into the coating. The antibacterial activity of the coatings was analyzed by using the Streptococcus mutans American Type Culture Collection 25175 strain. The metabolic activity of the multilayers was evaluated in cultures of a human primary osteogenic sarcoma cell line (Saos-2). In short, incorporation of 0·7 wt.% silver in the form of agglomerated particles, mostly around the micropores of the titanium oxide layer, enhanced the antibacterial efficiency of the fabricated coating to some extent without altering the cell proliferation considerably.