Silver doped zirconium oxide coated titanium substrate using dc magnetron sputtering for implant application

Recently, surface tailoring of the metallic implant have taken considerable attention to enhance the longevity of implants. In the present study, two different concentrations of silver doped with zirconia (ZrO₂) were deposited onto titanium (Ti) substrates using DC reactive magnetron sputtering technique. Surface morphology, elemental composition, functional group and thickness of the coatings were characterized by Field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM/EDAX), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and stylus profilometer respectively. Nanostructured grains were obtained by FESEM analysis with the thickness of ~300 nm, ~700 nm and ~800 nm for ZrO₂, ZrO₂-%Ag and ZrO₂%Ag(1) coatings measured by stylus profilometer. The in vitro antibacterial activity was performed for as prepared ZrO₂, ZrO₂-Ag and ZrO₂-Ag(1) coatings against E.coli, and Streptococcus sp. Antibacterial studies exhibit better performance for silver containing ZrO₂ rather than ZrO₂ coating and Ti substrates. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) results revealed superior corrosion resistance behavior for all the coatings than that of bare Ti substrates in artificial blood plasma electrolyte solution. The overall results stated that ZrO₂ and Ag doped ZrO₂ coating act as a good candidature for bioimplant applications. (author)