Cerium coatings on pristine and nanostructured Ti and Ti6Al4V surfaces: bioactivity, resistance in simulated inflammatory conditions, and antibacterial performance

Despite the significant contribution of titanium and its alloys for hard tissue regenerative medicine, some major issues remain to be solved. Implants' long-term stability is threatened by poor osseointegration. Moreover, bacterial adhesion and excessive inflammatory response are also to be considered in the design of a device intended to be integrated into the human body. Here, a cerium mixed oxide (CeOx) coating was realized on pristine and nanotubular-structured Ti and Ti6Al4V surfaces using a simple layer-by-layer drop-casting technique. Bioactivity, resistance in simulated inflammatory conditions, and bactericidal capacity were evaluated as a function of morphological surface characteristics combined with the cerium quantity deposited. The results obtained suggest that the presence of CeOx on the surfaces with nanotubes enhanced osseointegration, while on the non-nanostructured surfaces, this coating improved resistance under oxidative stress and provided excellent antibacterial properties.