Cu–Co Co-Doped Microporous Coating on Titanium with Osteogenic and Antibacterial Properties

Abstract

Titanium (Ti) and its alloys are widely used in bone surgery by virtue of their excellent mechanical properties and good biocompatibility; however, complications such as loosening and sinking have been reported post-implantation. Herein we deposited a copper–cobalt (Cu–Co) co-doped titanium dioxide (TUO) coating on the surface of Ti implants by microarc oxidation. The osteogenic and antimicrobial properties of the coating were evaluated by in vitro experiments, and we also assessed β-catenin expression levels on different sample surfaces. Our results revealed that the coating promoted the adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation of MG63 osteoblasts, and TUO coating promoted β-catenin expression; moreover, the proliferation of Staphylococcus aureus was inhibited. To summarize, we report that Cu–Co co-doping can enhance the osteogenic and antibacterial activities of orthopedic Ti implants, leading to potentially improved clinical performance.