Improving biocompatibility and corrosion resistance of titanium alloy implants with bredigite-graphene oxide nanocomposite coatings

Despite the significant properties of titanium and its alloys as implants for biomedical applications, the lack of proper osseointegration with human tissues, as well as the release of unfavorable ions, has prompted the development of various surface modifications and coatings. The aim of this study was to prepare nanocomposite coatings of bredigite-graphene oxide (GO) on a Ti6Al4V alloy substrate and investigate the influence of bredigite concentration on the physical, chemical, and biological properties of the coatings. To achieve this, bredigite nanopowder was synthesized using the combustion sol–gel method. Subsequently, a nanocomposite coating consisting of bredigite-graphene oxide with varying bredigite concentrations (4, 8, and 12%wt.) was prepared using a simple dip-coating method on Ti6Al4V. The results demonstrated that increasing the bredigite concentration to 8% wt. resulted in the formation of a uniform and dense coating. Corrosion tests also confirmed the improved corrosion resistance of the bredigite-GO coatings compared to the uncoated substrate. Additionally, the incorporation of bredigite nanopowder at 8%wt. significantly enhanced the hydrophilicity of the substrates, leading to improvement in vitro bioactivity and biocompatibility of the coatings. Based on these findings, it can be concluded that the bredigite-GO nanocomposite coating holds promise as a bioactive and anticorrosion coating for biomedical applications.