Functionalization of modified titanium by plasma electrolytic oxidation with antibiotic and cell adhesion promoters to improve osseointegration processes

Osseointegration of medical metals such as titanium (Ti) can be improved by inducing surface roughness. Plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) is a promising technique not only for controlling parameters such as porous size and thickness reproducibility but also producing uniform coatings. This study focused on proposing a cocktail of molecules consisting of the broad-spectrum antibiotic Gentamicin, RGD and GRGDSP adhesion peptides, and the bone growth factor BMP-4 to prevent microbial colonization and promote bone cell integration. For this, commercially pure (c.p) Ti and Ti6Al4V were anodized by PEO and then, a systematic evaluation of the immobilization and effect of each element in the biological performance was evaluated. The antibacterial effect against Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains was successfully observed. In addition, the osteoblast growth and mineralization were observed in the studied formulations. In conclusion, a formulation composed of gentamicin, growth factor BMP-4, and peptides either RGD or GRGDSP is proposed to immobilize the surface of implants for orthopedic and dental implant application.