Comparative Assessment of Fungal Biofilm Development on PEEK and PDMS Biomaterials and the Antifungal Potential of TiO2/ZrO2-Coated PEEK

Polyether ether ketones (PEEK) and polydimethylsiloxanes (PDMS) are widely used biomaterials; however, their susceptibility to microbial colonization remains a limitation in clinical applications. This study comparatively evaluated biofilm formation by Candida albicans and Nakaseomyces glabratus on PEEK and PDMS and characterized the effect of TiO2/ZrO2-based coatings applied to PEEK. Biofilm development was analyzed during adhesion, maturation, and dispersion using biomass quantification, metabolic activity assays, and scanning electron microscopy. Surface modifications were also evaluated. Both species formed a biofilm on the biomaterials, with a significantly higher biomass on the control, followed by PEEK and PDMS. TiO2/ZrO2-based coating affected biofilm maturation, with coating B as the one producing the greatest reduction in biofilm development. These findings suggest that surface modifications, such as hydrophobicity, using TiO2/ZrO2 coatings may influence fungal biofilm reduction and improve the antimicrobial performance of biomedical materials.