In vitro biocompatibility and bacterial adhesion of physico-chemically modified Ti6Al4V surface by means of UV irradiation

UV irradiation leads to a “spontaneous” wettability increase of the Ti6Al4V surface while preserving bulk properties of the alloy that are crucial for its performance as an orthopedic and dental implant. We hypothesized that UV treatment of Ti6Al4V may impair bacterial adhesion without compromising the good response of human bone-forming cells to this alloy. The in vitro biocompatibility of the Ti6Al4V surface, before and after UV irradiation, was analyzed by using human cells related to the osteoblastic phenotype. The adhesion processes of bacterial strains related to clinical orthopedic infections, i.e., Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis, were studied theoretically and in vitro, under dynamic and static conditions as well as in the presence or absence of shear forces. While human cell adhesion was not altered by UV irradiation of Ti6Al4V alloy, this treatment reduced not only initial bacterial adhesion rates but also the number of bacteria retained on the surface after the passage of two air–liquid interfaces on the previously adhered bacteria. This study proposes the use of UV treatment prior to implantation protocols as an easy, economic and effective way of reducing bacterial adhesion on the Ti6Al4V surface without compromising its excellent biocompatibility.