Surface texturing of Ti6Al4V alloy using femtosecond laser for superior antibacterial performance

TL;DR

This study demonstrates that femtosecond laser surface modification of Ti6Al4V alloy creates microstructures and titanium dioxide phases that significantly inhibit bacterial growth, potentially leading to infection-resistant medical implants.

Contribution

It introduces a novel femtosecond laser surface treatment method that enhances antibacterial properties of Ti6Al4V alloy for medical implant applications.

Findings

Laser treatment creates conical microstructures on Ti6Al4V surface.

Laser-treated surfaces inhibit bacterial growth of S. aureus, S. mutans, and P. aeruginosa.

Surface modifications increase surface roughness and titanium dioxide phases, contributing to antibacterial behavior.

Abstract

Titanium and its alloy are most widely used implant materials in dental and orthopaedic fields. However, infections occurring during implantation leads to implant failure in most of the cases. Here, we have demonstrated antibacterial behavior of Ti6Al4V alloy achieved when surface modified using femtosecond laser beam. Post laser treatment conical microstructures were observed on the Ti6Al4V alloy surface. Generation of different sub-oxide phases of titanium dioxide were detected on laser treated samples using X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Wettability of Ti6Al4V alloy surface changed significantly after interaction with the laser. Adhesion and growth of two gram positive; Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus mutans and one gram negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria have been explored on pristine, as well as, on laser textured Ti6Al4V alloy surfaces. In-vitro investigation on agar plate showed inhibition of bacterial growth on most of the laser treated surface. Superior surface roughness and occurrence of magneli phases of titanium dioxide on laser treated surface were probably responsible for the antibacterial behavior exhibited by the laser treated samples. Therefore, femtosecond laser surface treatment of Ti6Al4V alloy could find potential application in the development of infection free medical implants for dental and orthopedic usages.