Structural and morphological characterization of Ti6Al4V alloy surface functionalization based on Nb2O5 thin film for biomedical applications

• Published in: Applied surface science 2021-08, Vol.557, p.149739, Article 149739
• Main Authors: de Almeida Bino, Míriam Cristina, Eurídice, Washington Alves, Gelamo, Rogério Valentim, Leite, Natália Bueno, da Silva, Marcos Vinicius, de Siervo, Abner, Pinto, Marcelo Rodrigues, de Almeida Buranello, Patrícia Andressa, Moreto, Jéferson Aparecido
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biomedical application; Functional materials; Implants; Nb2O5 coating; Ti6Al4V alloy
• ISSN: 0169-4332; 1873-5584
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2021.149739

[Display omitted] •Reactive sputtering technique was beneficial for Nb2O5 thin films production on Ti6Al4V alloy surfaces.•Reactive sputtering technique was able to modify the titanium alloy surface by making it more hydrophilic.•Nb2O5 coating reduced Ti6Al4V alloy toxicity as well as its inflammation induction.•Higher level of the anti-inflammatory cytokine was found for functionalized surfaces. This paper proposes an applied and innovative research for the development of Nb2O5 thin film on the Ti6Al4V alloy surface with great prospects of being used in the biomedical area. Thin films of Nb2O5 have been deposited on the Ti6Al4V alloy surface by using the reactive sputtering technique. The system was characterized morphologically and structurally via SEM/EDX, AFM, FTIR, Raman spectroscopy and XPS. Interfacial tension theory was used for the determination of the surface free energy and showed that the treated surface became more hydrophilic when compared to the bare material. The high-resolution X-ray photoelectron spectra from Nb 3d and O 1s core-levels demonstrate unequivocally the presence of a single-phase Nb2O5. Cytotoxicity and biocompatibility (VERO-CCL-81 cell line) tests as well as analyzes of inflammatory responses with Human blood leukocyte cells were also performed by showing that Nb2O5 coating reduced both Ti6Al4V alloy toxicity and its inflammation induction besides increasing the anti-inflammatory cytokine levels. Since the surface functionalization resulted in both higher biocompatibility and tolerance by immune cells besides low inflammatory levels concerning the base material, we present a superior material with wide spectra of usage in the biomedical area.