Photocatalytic and antimicrobial properties of surgical implant coatings of titanium dioxide deposited though cathodic arc evaporation

摘要

Nanostructured crystalline titanium dioxide coatings deposited by cathodic arc evaporated on titanium grade five medical implant substrates were demonstrated to exhibit UV-induced photocatalytic activity that can be utilized to provide bactericidal effects against Staphylococcus epidermidis. The photocatalytic activity of the coatings was confirmed via degradation of Rhodamine B under UV illumination. A 90 % reduction of viable bacteria was achieved in a clinically suitable time of only 2 min with a UV dose of 2.4 J delivered at 365 nm. These results are encouraging for the development of antimicrobial surfaces in orthopedics and dentistry in order to prevent or treat post-surgical infections.