Construction of a Rough Surface with Submicron Ti2Cu Particle on Ti-Cu Alloy and Its Effect on the Antibacterial Properties and Cell Biocompatibility

Titanium-copper (Ti-Cu) alloy is an advanced antibacterial material with excellent mechanical properties, thermodynamic stability, corrosion resistance and biocompatibility. Sandblasting and acid-etching was applied to the Ti-3Cu alloy to construct a rough surface with Ti2Cu phase on the surface in order to improve the antibacterial properties and the osseointegration. The phase constitutes and the physical properties were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM), and the surface chemical properties were analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and electrochemical testing. The antibacterial property was assessed by the plate-count method and the cell compatibility was evaluated by the CCK-8 test in order to reveal the effect of surface characteristics on the antibacterial ability and bioactivity. The results demonstrated a rough and lamellar surface structure with many submicron Ti2Cu particles on the surface of Ti-3Cu, which could enhance the antibacterial ability and promote the cell proliferation and the initial adhesion of osteoblasts. However, the surface treatment also reduced the corrosion resistance and accelerated the Cu ion release.