Effect of Ta(Cu)–O composite film on mechanical properties, osteoblasts proliferation and antibacterial behavior of medical titanium alloy

• Published in: Vacuum Vol. 218; p. 112631
• Main Authors: Gao, Yuan, Song, Xiduo, Liu, Zuoda, Liu, Mengyin, Li, Dejun, Zhao, Mengli
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.12.2023
• Subjects: Antibacterial properties; Magnetron sputtering; Osteogenetic activity; Ta(Cu)–O composite film; Titanium; Titanium; Magnetron sputtering; Antibacterial properties; Osteogenetic activity; Ta(Cu)–O composite film
• ISSN: 0042-207X; 1879-2715
• DOI: 10.1016/j.vacuum.2023.112631

Although titanium alloy (Ti–6Al–4V) has good mechanical and biological properties as a bone implant material, it still has defects of biologically inertness and poor antibacterial ability. In this study, a multi-target magnetron sputtering method was used to prepare Ta(Cu)–O composite films with three different ratios (Ta(Cu10.82)-O; Ta(Cu5.68)-O; Ta(Cu3.43)-O) on the surface of Ti–6Al–4V to solve the problems above. In vitro osteoblast proliferation experiments showed that the Ta(Cu)–O composite films significantly accelerated the proliferation, adhesion and spreading of osteoblasts, especially for Ta(Cu3.43)-O. And due to the excellent antibacterial activity of Cu, the Ta(Cu)–O composite films also showed good antibacterial effect. In conclusion, the results showed that the Ta(Cu)–O films can enhance the antibacterial properties of Ti–6Al–4V while accelerating the growth of osteoblasts, displaying great clinical potential in bone-implants applications. •Ta(Cu)–O was co-sputtering on Ti–6Al–4V via multitarget magnetron sputtering system.•Ta(Cu)–O composite film improves the corrosion resistance of Ti–6Al–4V.•Ta is positive effect on cell adhesion and proliferation.•Cu possesses better antibacterial effect within a certain range.•Ta(Cu3.43)-O exhibits the optimal synergistic regulation of MC3T3-E1 and E. coli.