New technology of antibacterial effect of titanium alloy

Researchers have developed a new technique that gives anti-bacterial effects to titanium alloy, one of the key materials used in advanced surgical procedures. Researchers say the implants treated according to the new method will significantly speed up and facilitate recovery from trauma. With aging, the mechanical properties and ability to recover from bone injuries significantly decrease, and such injuries require long-term treatment. The use of implants made of unmodified metals and alloys can lead to complications that may require a second surgery later. Materials that inhibit bacterial activity could help make implants safer and more reliable. Therefore, the researchers developed a method to spray antibacterial coating on titanium alloy Ti-Zr-Nb. The results showed that this method could completely inhibit the growth of E. coli on the surface of the implant. At low doses of silver output (about 0.037 mg/L), it is completely safe for the body and achieves significant antibacterial effects. The "blow" to the bacteria is carried out by silver ions, the researchers said. The scientists chemically synthesized the nanoparticles and released them in a complex alcohol solution, making them only about 10 nanometers in size. Because of this, silver deposits in the pores of the material up to 60 nm deep, greatly improving the durability and antibacterial effect of the coating.