Synthesis of titanium oxide thin films containing antibacterial silver nanoparticles by a reactive magnetron co-sputtering system for application in biomedical implants

Titanium oxide thin films containing silver (Ag) nanoparticles were synthesized on commercially pure titanium (cp-Ti) substrates using a reactive magnetron co-sputtering method. The goal was to maximize bactericidal activity along with sustained biocompatibility. Furthermore, this study examined the correlation between Ag nanoparticle dispersion in the films and the antibacterial efficacy of the Ag ions released from the films. The results showed that there might be two factors affecting the inhibition of bacterial attachment to the surface of the specimens: surface morphology and Ag ion release. MTT assay results demonstrated that there was no cytotoxicity on fibroblast cells in any group. Overall, the magnetron sputtered Ag nanoparticle-containing titanium oxide coatings in this study can be used as an efficient antibacterial layer with sustained biocompatibility.

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► TiO2 thin films containing silver nanoparticles were fabricated using co-sputtering.
► Correlation between silver nanoparticle dispersion and the antibacterial efficacy
► The inhibition of bacterial attachment: surface morphology and silver ion release
► MTT assay results demonstrated non-cytotoxicity on the fibroblast cells in any group.