Studies of bacterial adhesion on TiN, SiO2–TiO2 and hydroxyapatite thin layers deposited on titanium and Ti6Al4V alloy for medical applications

The Staphylococcus epidermidis biofilm formation on titanium or titanium alloy, coated with TiN, SiO2–TiO2 and electrodeposited hydroxyapatite, was tested. Surfaces of titanium, Ti6Al4V alloy or TiN, modified with SiO2–TiO2 layer, were found to be highly resistant to bacterial adhesion. Only small amounts of bacterial cells were observed on matrices coated by thin hydroxyapatite films, deposited on both SiO2–TiO2 and TiN + SiO2–TiO2 interlayers. Biological tests showed that the biofilm formed massively on polished and ground titanium and titanium alloy surfaces, also those covered with TiN, but not on those modified with SiO2–TiO2 nanofilm.