This work presents the synthesis of nanostructured TiO2 modified with noble metal nanoparticles (Au, Ag) and lysozyme and coated on titanium foil. Moreover, the specific structural and functional properties of the resulting inorganic and hybrid materials were explored. The purpose of this study was to identify the key parameters for developing engineered coatings on titanium foil appropriate for efficient dental implants with intrinsic antibacterial activity. TiO2 nanoparticles obtained using the sol-gel method were deposited on Ti foil and modified with Au/Ag nanoparticles. Morphological and structural investigations (scanning electron and atomic force microscopies, X-ray diffraction, photoluminescence, and UV-Vis spectroscopies) were carried out for the characterization of the resulting inorganic coatings. In order to modify their antibacterial activity, which is essential for safe dental implants, the following aspects were investigated: (a) singlet oxygen (1O2) generation by inorganic coatings exposed to visible light irradiation; (b) the antibacterial behavior emphasized by titania-based coatings deposited on titanium foil (TiO2/Ti foil; Au-TiO2/Ti foil, Ag-TiO2/Ti foil); (c) the lysozyme bioactivity on the microbial substrate (Micrococcus lysodeicticus) after its adsorption on inorganic surfaces (Lys/TiO2/Ti foil; Lys/Au-TiO2/Ti foil, Lys/Ag-TiO2/Ti foil); (d) the enzymatic activity of the above-mentioned hybrids materials for the hydrolysis reaction of a synthetic organic substrate usually used for monitoring the lysozyme biocatalytic activity, namely, 4-Methylumbelliferyl β-D-N,N',N″-triacetylchitotrioside [4-MU-β- (GlcNAc)3]. This was evaluated by identifying the presence of a fluorescent reaction product, 7-hydroxy-4-metyl coumarin (4-methylumbelliferone).
Keywords: TiO2 coatings for titanium implant; antibacterial activity; biocatalytic activity of lysozyme; hybrid materials; noble metal nanoparticles; photosensitive materials.