Investigation on improving the tribological and biocompatibility of Ti6Al4V alloy for dental implants by bionic micro-textures

The Ti6Al4V alloy is extensively utilized in dental implants owing to its suited mechanical and biocompatibility qualities. Nonetheless, its subpar tribological performance often result in wear-induced loosening and insufficient osseointegration, restricting its long-term durability. Therefore, three kinds of bionic micro-texture were innovatively designed based on the liquid-storing, liquid-guiding and guiding-storing hybrid theories for Ti6Al4V dental implants. Their synthetic effect on the tribological behavior and biocompatibility was revealed. The results showed that the oxide layer containing high-density hydroxyl groups was formed during laser processing, which significantly enhanced the hydrophilicity of the textured surfaces. The guiding-storing hybrid bionic shark skin micro-texture demonstrated superior anti-wear performance and contact guidance effect, showing the greatest application potential. Its wear depth decreased over 83% comparing to the untextured surface. The cell nuclei and actin filaments aligned highly regularly along the groove ridges, resulting in a spindle-like morphology with a high aspect ratio. This study presents a dual-functional surface optimization technique that harmonizes mechanical stability and bioactivity to reduce wear-induced premature failure of dental implants.