Hybrid Coatings of Chitosan-Tetracycline-Oxide Layer on Anodized Ti-13Zr-13Nb Alloy as New Drug Delivery System
Source abstract
Abstract
Titanium alloys are widely used in orthopedic and dental implants, yet their limited bioactivity and bacterial resistance remain critical challenges. This study aimed to enhance the surface performance of a Ti-13Zr-13Nb alloy through the formation of a porous oxide layer and the application of a bioactive, drug-loaded coating. Porous oxide layers composed of Ti, Zr, and Nb oxides with fluoride incorporation were fabricated using a novel anodizing process. The fluoride-assisted electrochemical mechanism controlling oxide growth was elucidated through SEM and EDS analyses. The anodized surface exhibited reduced microhardness, beneficial for minimizing stress-shielding effects. Subsequently, chitosan–tetracycline composite coatings were produced via EPD and compared with dip-coating method. Characterization by ATR-FTIR, optical microscopy, SEM, and UV-VIS spectroscopy confirmed the formation of uniform, adherent, and moderately porous coatings with sustained drug release when produced by EPD, while dip-coated layers were less homogeneous and released the drug faster. Microhardness testing revealed improved mechanical integrity of EPD coatings. The developed chitosan–tetracycline–oxide layer system provides tunable nano/microgram-scale drug release and enhanced surface functionality, offering promising perspectives for acute and medium-term regenerative and antibacterial biomedical applications.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline
Research context
OpenAlex topics: Titanium Alloys Microstructure and Properties · Bone Tissue Engineering Materials · Magnesium Alloys: Properties and Applications
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
Affiliations
Institute of Materials Engineering, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Silesia in Katowice, 75 Pułku Piechoty 1A, 41-500 Chorzów, Poland
Łukasiewicz Research Network-Institute of Ceramics and Building Materials, Cementowa 8, 31-983 Kraków, Poland
References (65)
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