Surface Modification of Commercially Pure Titanium Substrate with Different Coating Materials Using Electrophoretic Deposition Technique

This work employed biocompatible and antibacterial materials to coat a commercial pure titanium (Cp-Ti) substrate for orthopedic implants applications. Three sorts of coatings were utilized using the electrophoretic deposition (EPD) technique: collagen, yttria-partially stabilized zirconia (YPSZ), and a composite of collagen/YPSZ (denoted as CZ). Surface microstructure before and after coating was examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results presented that homogeneous and uniform coating layers were successfully deposited on all samples’ surface. A relatively low pores density was observed in the surface microstructure of composite-coated sample (CZ). The chemical composition of coatings was evaluated via energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), confirming that all spectra matched those of standard materials, with no signs of contaminations. Adhesion strength of coatings was evaluated using a tape test. CZ-coated sample exhibited the smallest removal area at 11.81%, demonstrating superior adhesion strength. Wettability tests were conducted on the Cp-Ti substrate before and after coating. The results showed that the application of the collagen/YPSZ composite coatings significantly enhanced surface wettability by diminishing the contact angle, making the samples surface more hydrophilic. Post-deposition antibacterial activity was estimated against Escherichia coli ( E. coli ) and Staphylococcus aureus ( S. aureus ) pathogenic bacteria. All coated samples demonstrated improved antibacterial performance compared to the uncoated Cp-Ti, with the CZ-coated sample exhibiting the largest inhibition zone of 32 mm and 37 mm against both E. coli and S.aureus bacteria respectively.