Surface Modification of Ti6Al4V Alloy: A Case Study on Anti-Streptococcus Mutans

This study aims to improve the antibacterial effectiveness against Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) of Ti6Al4V alloy by employing functional Ag coating on the alloy's surface. In this study, Ag coating was prepared on Ti6Al4V surface via RF magnetron sputtering, then investigated characteristics and anti-S. mutans properties of the modified surface's alloy before and after immersing in simulated body fluid (SBF) solution for one month. Data showed that the two coatings inhibited the development of S. mutans colony-forming units (CFU) at an incubation time until seven days. This study provides a research foundation for further development of surface modification of Ti6Al4V alloy for dental implants to meet the demand of reducing peri-implant diseases caused by bacteria. image