Silver-deposited titanium as a prophylactic 'nano coat' for peri-implantitis.

Dental implant failures caused by bacterial infections are a significant concern for dental implantologists. We modified the titanium surface by depositing silver (Ti-Ag) using direct current (DC) sputtering and confirmed the formation of a 'nano coat' by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), surface profilometry and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) revealed the deposition of a uniform nano Ag thin film. A gradual increase in thickness was observed, and the film thickness (530 nm) at 5 min deposition time (Ti-Ag 5 ) resulted in a reduction of the water contact angle (WCA, 15%) and an increase in surface energy (SFE, 22%) in comparison to the uncoated Ti surface. Using inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES), the slow, steady release of Ag from the coating was observed over 21 days. The Ti-Ag 5 surface exhibited excellent antibacterial activity against Streptococcus oralis , Streptococcus sanguinis , Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans , and Porphyromonas gingivalis , which belonged to the yellow, purple, and red complexes, representing specific periodontal pathogens. Furthermore, we observed excellent cytocompatibility of Ag-deposited Ti towards MG-63 osteoblasts with no inhibitory effect on their proliferative potential. Quantitation of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, mineralization efficiency, and osteogenesis-related gene expression of MG-63 cells over 21 days was suggestive of rapid osseointegration. Overall, the 'nano coat' of Ag on Ti is indeed a prophylactic against peri-implantitis, ensuring increased implant success.