Bactericidal and Biocompatible Properties of Plasma Chemical Oxidized Titanium (TiOB(®)) with Antimicrobial Surface Functionalization

Coating of plasma chemical oxidized titanium (TiOB(®)) with gentamicin-tannic acid (TiOB(®) gta) has proven to be efficient in preventing bacterial colonization of implants. However, in times of increasing antibiotic resistance, the development of alternative antimicrobial functionalization strategies is of major interest. Therefore, the aim of the present study is to evaluate the antibacterial and biocompatible properties of TiOB(®) functionalized with silver nanoparticles (TiOB(®) SiOx Ag) and ionic zinc (TiOB(®) Zn). Antibacterial efficiency was determined by agar diffusion and proliferation test on Staphylocuccus aureus. Cytocompatibility was analyzed by direct cultivation of MC3T3-E1 cells on top of the functionalized surfaces for 2 and 4 d. All functionalized surfaces showed significant bactericidal effects expressed by extended lag phases (TiOB(®) gta for 5 h, TiOB(®) SiOx Ag for 8 h, TiOB(®) Zn for 10 h). While TiOB(®) gta (positive control) and TiOB(®) Zn remained bactericidal for 48 h, TiOB(®) SiOx Ag was active for only 4 h. After direct cultivation for 4 d, viable MC3T3-E1 cells were found on all surfaces tested with the highest biocompatibility recorded for TiOB(®) SiOx Ag. The present study revealed that functionalization of TiOB(®) with ionic zinc shows bactericidal properties that are comparable to those of a gentamicin-containing coating.