TiO nanorod arrays as a photocatalytic coating enhanced antifungal and antibacterial efficiency of Ti substrates.

AIM

To investigate the photocatalytic inactivation of fungi and bacteria mediated by TiO nanorod arrays (TNRs).

MATERIALS & METHODS: The features of TNRs were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction (XRD) and contact angle measurement. The antimicrobial efficiency was detected on biofilm and planktonic forms of Candida albicans, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans and Porphyromonas gingivalis by crystal violet and XTT (2,3-bis [2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl]-2H-tetrazolium-5-caboxanilide) assay, confocal laser scanning microscope and colony-forming assay. Fluorogenic quantitative assay was used to explore the underlying mechanism.

RESULTS & CONCLUSION: TNRs were well aligned and vertically oriented on Ti with a diameter of about 100 μm, possessing a rougher surface and better hydrophilicity. Moreover, TNRs exhibited significantly higher antifungal and antibacterial efficiency compared with Ti under UV irradiation, laying the foundation for surface modification of implants with TNRs.