Bacterial Properties and Biocompatibility of Ti-5Mo-30Nb Alloy Functionalized by Micro-Arc Oxidation

• Grant number: 25/00162-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• Start date: July 01, 2025
• End date: June 30, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Biomedical Engineering - Bioengineering
• Principal Investigator: Carlos Roberto Grandini
• Grantee: Giovana Collombaro Cardoso
• Supervisor: Vicente Amigo Borras
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências (FC). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Bauru. Bauru , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Universitat Politécnica de Valéncia (UPV), Spain
• Associated to the scholarship: 21/15018-9 - Antibacterial Properties and Biocompatibility of Ti-5Mo-30Nb Alloy Functionalized by Micro-Arc Oxidation, BP.DR

Abstract

Titanium and its alloys are among the most widely used metallic biomaterials today, as they present excellent biocompatibility, resistance to corrosion and wear, and good mechanical properties. Their use in the medical field includes needles, pins, screws, and orthopedic, dental, and cardiovascular implants. However, these materials are bioinert, can cause infections, and cannot be rapidly osseointegrated, contributing to increased cases of implant failure. Thus, the objective of this study is to functionalize, through the micro-arc oxidation (MAO) technique, the surface of the Ti-30-5Nb alloy, indicated as the best alloy in a previous study, incorporating Cu, Ag, and Zn particles, aiming to improve the osseointegration, corrosion, and tribocorrosion properties of this biomaterial, in addition to providing bactericidal effects without compromising its cytotoxicity. The alloy ingots will be melted in an arc furnace in a controlled argon atmosphere. The surface treatment will be performed by MAO using an electrolytic solution containing calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus. Subsequently, Cu, Ag, and Zn nanoparticles will be added to the solution to compare the bactericidal effects of each. The composition andmorphology of the treated surfaces will be assessed, corrosion and wear tests will be conducted, and the cytotoxicity and the bactericidal effects of the incorporated particles in the alloy will be evaluated.