Biocompatibility studies on TiO2 coated Ti surface

Nanostructured titanium dioxide (TiO₂) thin films were deposited over thoroughly cleaned titanium (Ti) substrates using reactive dc magnetron sputtering technique at different deposition temperatures. Micro-structural and morphological properties of the TiO₂ films were studied using field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) respectively. The sputtered films existed in monoclinic phase as revealed by XRD. The crystallite size of the film was varied between 19 to 25 nm as calculated from XRD. The hydrophobic/hydrophilic nature of the TiO₂ films was analyzed by contact angle measurement. The formation of apatite of the deposited films following immersion in simulated body fluid indicated that the surface modified Ti substrate surface possess bioactivity. In vitro blood compatibility studies conducted on both surface modified and unmodified substrates were evaluated by kinetic clotting time method.