Contact Guidance Effect and Prevention of Microfouling on a Beta Titanium Alloy Surface Structured by Electron-Beam Technology

Sara Ferraris*, Fernando Gustavo Warchomicka, Jacopo Barberi, Andrea Cochis, Alessandro Calogero Scalia, Silvia Spriano

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Nano- and micro-structuring of implantable materials constitute a promising approach to introduce mechanical contact guidance effect, drive cells colonization, as well as to prevent bacteria adhesion and biofilm aggregation, through antifouling topography. Accordingly, this paper aims to extend the application of e-beam surface texturing and nano-structuring to the beta titanium alloys, which are of great interest for biomedical implants because of the low Young modulus and the reduction of the stress shielding effect. The paper shows that surface texturing on the micro-scale (micro-grooves) is functional to a contact guidance effect on gingival fibroblasts. Moreover, nano-structuring, derived from the e-beam surface treatment, is effective to prevent microfouling. In fact, human fibroblasts were cultivated directly onto grooved specimens showing to sense the surface micro-structure thus spreading following the grooves’ orientation. Moreover, Staphylococcus aureus colonies adhesion was prevented by the nano-topographies in comparison to the mirror-polished control, thus demonstrating promising antifouling properties. Furthermore, the research goes into detail to understand the mechanism of microfouling prevention due to nano-topography and microstructure.
Original languageEnglish
Article number1474
Pages (from-to)1-13
Number of pages13
JournalNanomaterials
Volume11
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2 Jun 2021

Keywords

  • Titanium alloys
  • surface modification
  • Electron beam structuring
  • nanotopography
  • Biofilm
  • antifouling
  • Surface modification
  • Nano-topography
  • Antifouling
  • Beta titanium alloys
  • Electron beam technique
  • Ti15Mo

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Chemical Engineering
  • General Materials Science

Fields of Expertise

  • Human- & Biotechnology
  • Advanced Materials Science

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