Titania nanotubes (TNTs), fabricated by electrochemical anodization due to their outstanding properties, have been widely explored for solar cells, catalysis, electronics, drug delivery, biosensing, and medical implants. Rational design of the anodization conditions is the key to obtaining high quality TNTs that are well aligned and strongly adherent onto the underlying titanium substrate. With the development of many anodization procedures on a substrate with various shapes and sizes, catering to various applications, the mechanical stability of anodic layers is often neglected. Here we consider the factors that lead to unstable and poorly adherent nanotube arrays produced upon anodization of curved titanium surfaces. The role of electrolyte aging, water content, voltage/time of anodization, and the substrate dimensions were investigated for optimization of the fabrication of nanotubes on curved surfaces such as Ti wires. Finally, the most optimal fabrication procedure and anodization parameters are presented that yield high-quality nanotubes, which are stable and well-adherent on the underlying substrate.

No abstract

As current studies have demonstrated, TNTs are a remarkable material that could potentially revolutionize localized DD therapies, especially in areas of orthopedics and localized chemotherapy. However, more extensive ex vivo and in vivo studies should be carried out before TNTs-based DRI could become a feasible technology for real-life clinical applications. This will imply the implementation of different approaches to overcome some technical and commercial challenges.

Toward a smart optical biosensor based on nanoporous anodic alumina (NAA): by modifying the pore geometry in nanoporous anodic alumina we are able to change the effective medium at will and tune the photoluminescence of NAA. The oscillations in the PL spectrum are converted into exclusive barcodes, which are useful for developing optical biomedical sensors in the UV-Visible region.

This review presents the different types and concepts of drug-releasing implants using new nanomaterials and nanotechnology-based devices.