Creation of a Microstructured-Nanostructured Active Layer and Its Antibacterial Characteristics on the Surface of a 3D-Printed Biomedical Porous Titanium-Alloy Bone Implant

Utilization of titanium-alloy bone implants in orthopedic clinics has witnessed a significant increase；however，their high elastic modulus，inadequate antibacterial performance，and inherent biological inertness can lead to issues such as stress shielding，postoperative infection，and implant loosening. These issues have a substantial negative impact on the patients’ postoperative recovery. To address these issues，this study investigated a porous Ti-6Al-4V-alloy bone implant material，which was fabricated using three-dimensional(3D)printing technology and possessed exceptional mechanical properties. An anodic oxidation process was used to create a TiO2 microstructurednanostructured active layer on the implant surface. Additionally，silver nanoparticles were loaded using a photoreduction method. By optimizing its structure，we explored the correlation between hydrophilicity，corrosion resistance，and bacteriostatic properties. Results show that the 3D-printed porous titanium alloy generates a regular TiO2 micro-structured-nanostructured active layer on its surface through two anodizing processes. This layer can considerably enhance the biological activity and corrosion resistance of bone implant materials in simulated body fluids. After loading trace amounts of silver nanoparticles，the hydrophilicity changed marginally. However，this loading played a crucial role in inhibiting the growth and adherence of E. coli and S. aureus. This study provides an important reference for the development and application of 3D-printed biomedical porous titanium-alloy bone implants. © 2024 Tianjin University. All rights reserved.