“…The controllable and long-lasting release of active silver ions from Ag-TiO 2 films would be favourable for the treatment of post-implantation infections. Antibacterial Ag-TiO 2 films are prepared on biomedical metals by the methods of vapour deposition, 17,31 plasma electrolytic processing, 10 sol-gel coating, 5,14,24 etc. In comparison with vapour deposition and electrochemical techniques, the sol-gel coating method has the advantages of independence of substrate shape, the good control of coating composition, thickness and topography, the ease in dopant introduction, and the relative ease of processing, etc.…”