Engineering nanotubular titania with gold nanoparticles for antibiofilm enhancement and soft tissue healing promotion

The success rate of titanium dental implants were challenged from peri-implant infections. However, pure titanium surfaces possess no antibacterial properties and are bio-inert for soft tissue healing delay. In the present study, the anodized titania nanotubes (TiO2-NTs) on Ti substrate were fabricated following by Au nanoparticle (AuNPs) deposition. The AuNPs incorporation into hierarchical TiO2-NTs would not only exhibit photocatalytic activity by visible-light irradiation, but also generate more quantum yield of reactive oxygen species, due to the prevention of electron-hole recombination and the surface plasmon resonance of Au, thus resulting in an enhanced antibacterial effect against multispecies biofilm. Antibacterial efficacy of AuNPs/TiO2-NTs was positively corelated with Au nanoparticle amount in TiO2-NTs samples. Besides, AuNPs decoration would also exert favorable functions on cell attachment, proliferation and migration of fibroblast. Experiments in animal model also indicated a superior soft tissue healing promotion for AuNPs/TiO2-NTs. Therefore, this designed AuNPs/TiO2-NTs is beneficial and applicable to dental implant surfaces to inhibit pathogens, promote soft tissue healing and combat periodontitis.