Antibacterial effect of TiAg alloy motivated by Ag-containing phases.

Abstract The precipitates in Ti-Ag alloy made an important contribution to antibacterial activity. In order to study this specific effects, Ti-Ag samples with different forms of precipitates were produced by powder metallurgy and ingot metallurgy followed by heat treatment: Ti-Ag(T4) with no precipitate, Ti-Ag(as-cast) and Ti-Ag(T6) with Ti2Ag and Ti-Ag(PM) with Ti2Ag and Ag-rich phase. Microstructure was analyzed by scanning electronic microscope (SEM), and the antibacterial effects, expression of reactive oxygen species (ROS), protein leakage and biocompatibility were investigated by plate count method, staining technology and cell test. The antibacterial ability was in the following order from low to high: Ti-Ag(T4)