Effects of Various Polishing Techniques on the Surface Characteristics of the Ti-6Al-4V Alloy and on Bacterial Adhesion

Abstract

Ti-6Al-4V, although widely used in dental materials, causes peri-implant inflammation due to the long-term accumulation of bacteria around the implant, resulting in bone loss and eventual failure of the implant. This study aims to overcome the problem of dental implant infection by analyzing the influence of Ti-6Al-4V surface characteristics on the quantity of accumulated bacteria. Ti-6Al-4V specimens, each with different surface roughness are produced by mechanical, chemical, and electrolytic polishing. The surface roughness, surface contact angle, surface oxygen content, and surface structure were measured via atomic force microscopy (AFM), laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM), drop shape analysis (using sessile drop), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The micro and macro surface roughness are 10.33–120.05 nm and 0.68–2.34 μm, respectively. The surface X direction and Y direction contact angle are 21.38°–96.44° and 18.37°–92.72°, respectively. The surface oxygen content is 47.36–59.89 at.%. The number of colonies and the optical density (OD) are 7.87 × 106–17.73 × 106 CFU/mL and 0.189–0.245, respectively. The bacterial inhibition were the most effective under the electrolytic polishing of Ti-6Al-4V. The electrolytic polishing of Ti-6Al-4V exhibited the best surface characteristics: the surface roughness of 10 nm, surface contact angle of 92°, and surface oxygen content of 54 at.%, respectively. This provides the best surface treatment of Ti-6Al-4V in dental implants.

Experimental Study on Ultra-Precision Polishing of Ti-6Al-4V by Ultraviolet-Induced Nanoparticle Colloid Jet Machining

“…The AFM micrographs of specimen D showed more undulate than other specimen that polished by non-chemical polishing methods. The above results of references [ 29 , 30 ] also prove that when the Ti-6Al-4V is polished by chemical polishing, the material removal rate of α phase and β phase of Ti-6Al-4V are different in the process of chemical polishing, and the micro peaks and valleys are left on the surface of the workpiece.…”

“…In reference [ 29 ], when Ti-6Al-4V was polished by chemistry enhanced shear thickening polishing with different pH values, well-distributed surface peaks and valleys at regular intervals with the same size (about 5 μm) and height (about 10 nm) could be observed on the workpiece surface. In reference [ 30 ], the SEM images of Ti-6Al-4V specimen D, which is polished by chemical polishing, showed the α phase base and β phase on the workpiece surface. The AFM micrographs of specimen D showed more undulate than other specimen that polished by non-chemical polishing methods.…”

Study of cytotoxic activity of Ti–13Nb–13Zr medical alloy with different surface finishing techniques

“…Using hydrogen peroxide in our research during chemical etching shows promising results for the application of Ti-13Nb-13Zr surfacemodified alloy in implantology. The produced O 2 and OH can alter the permeability of a surface, e.g., of the Staphylococcus aureus cell membrane [78], which may result in the surface antimicrobial properties desired in implants [79,80]. It is worth paying attention to this issue and developing it in terms of the antibacterial properties of Ti-13Nb-13Zr surfaces after various types of modifications.…”

Recent Advances in the Control of Clinically Important Biofilms

“…The physicochemical properties of the treated metal surface can be manipulated to alter bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation. It was reported that electrolytic polishing of the Ti-6Al-4V titanium alloy (which is widely used in medicine) is favorable to obtain a surface roughness of 10.33 nm ± 1.14 [ 106 ]. After the electropolishing process, the water contact angle was 92°, and the surface strongly inhibited the adhesion of S. mutans .…”