Antibacterial effect of sand blasted, large-grit, acid-etched treated Ti–Ag alloys

The purpose of this study was to investigate the antibacterial effect of sand-blasted, large-grit, acid-etched (SLA) treated Ti–Ag alloys. Three different alloys with varying Ag contents (Ti–1Ag, Ti–2Ag, and Ti–4Ag) were SLA treated by grit blasting with 250 μm sized alumina and acid-etching in 7% HCl + 27% H2SO4 solution at 110 °C for 5 min. The microporous structures were formed following SLA treatment and Ag particles were identified on Ti–2Ag and Ti–4Ag alloys. And high concentration of Ag released steadily during 7 days from the Ti–4Ag. Higher level of antibacterial effect was evident on SLA treated Ti–Ag alloys compare to commercially pure Ti (p < 0.05) in the antibacterial test using Streptococcus aureus whereas no significant difference in cell viability among the SLA treated Ti–Ag allows and commercially pure Ti was identified. Hence, it was concluded that SLA treated Ti–Ag had an antibacterial effect while being biocompatible.