A Nitrogen- and Self-Doped Titania Coating Enables the On-Demand Release of Free Radical Species

Strategy for Patterning Titania Dendrites by Gas-Solution Interaction at Droplet Surfaces

Interaction of the solution droplet surface with gaseous components of the environment can lead to the formation of highly ordered patterns, such as dendrites. Here, we show that these structures can be spontaneously created during the open-air interaction of aqueous solution drop of titanium(III) salt with gaseous NH3 at the contact boundary thereof. The conditions have been identified under which radially ordered dendritic patterns can form on the surface of the TiCl3 solution droplet. The formation of these self-organized dendrite patterns can be attributed to the surface instability manifesting in Marangoni thermal flows in a droplet occurring during open-air fabrication. The composition of as-synthesized structures corresponds to coprecipitated crystalline NH4Cl and amorphous TiO2nH2O. After thermal treatment at 450 °C, TiO2 with the anatase crystal lattice is formed; meanwhile, the ordered dendrite patterns are preserved.

The influence of laser frequency and groove distance on cell adhesion, cell viability, and antibacterial characteristics of Ti-6Al-4V dental implants treated by modern fiber engraving laser

OBJECTIVE

Micro-nano scale surface modification of Ti-6Al-4V was investigated through the fascinated modern fiber engraving laser method. The process was performed at a high laser speed of 2000mm/s, under different laser frequencies (20-160kHz) and groove distances (0.5-50μm).

METHODS

Topographic evaluations such as Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM) were used to identify the quality and regularity of patterns. The proliferation of human osteoblast-like osteosarcoma cells (MG63) was analyzed by MTT assay for up to 72h. Also, the plate counting method was used to quantify the viability potential of the modified surface against Escherichia coli bacteria.

RESULTS

The cellular viability of the sample modified at the laser frequency of 20kHz and grooving distance of 50μm increased up to 35 and 10% compared to the non-treated and control samples, respectively. In the case of the surface modification at lower grooving distances range between 0.5-50μm, the maximum laser frequency (160kHz) applied leads to lower pulse's energies and less bacterial adhesion. Otherwise, at groove distances more than 50μm, the minimum laser frequency (20kHz) applied reduces the laser pulse overlaps, increases the cell adhesion and antibacterial properties.

SIGNIFICANCE

Surface modification by the fiber engraving laser process significantly enhances the cell adhesion on the surface. As a result of such roughness and cell adhesion enhancement, the surface toxicity feature diminished, and its antibacterial properties improved.