Bacterial Inhibition and Osteoblast Adhesion on Ti Alloy Surfaces Modified by Poly(PEGMA-r-Phosmer) Coating

We have synthesized and immobilized PEGMA500-Phosmer to Ti6Al4V surfaces by a simple procedure to reduce bacteria-associated infection without degrading the cell response. Adhered bacteria coverage was lessened to 1% on polymer-coated surfaces when exposed to Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Streptococcus mutans. Moreover, PEGMA500-Phosmer and homoPhosmer coatings presented better responses to MC3T3-E1 preosteoblast cells when compared with the results for PEGMA2000-Phosmer-coated and raw Ti alloy surfaces. The behavior of balancing bacterial inhibition and cell attraction of the PEGMA500-Phosmer coating was explained by the grafted phosphate groups, with an appropriate PEG brush length facilitating greater levels of calcium deposition and further fibronectin adsorption when compared with that of the raw Ti alloy surface.