Influence of micro-textures on wettability and antibacterial behavior of Titanium surfaces against S. aureus and E. coli: in vitro studies

Bacterial adhesion to the surface can quickly lead to the development of biofilms, which can create a variety of economic and health issues. In the marine industry, Biofouling causes sailing resistance, resulting in higher fuel consumption and waste emissions for boats, ships, and submarines. Metals such as titanium and its alloys along with stainless steel are commonly used in orthopedic implants and the most common complications seen after the implantation are bacterial infections acquired through invasive and post-operative medical procedures. This type of infection damages the bone and surrounding tissues. Separating a biofilm from an implant surface is time-consuming because even minor biofilm residues left on the implant surface might cause the infection to reappear. Implant replacement or long-term antibiotic therapy are usually suggested in such circumstances, which is not optimal for individuals with co-morbid conditions. In the case of long-term use of antibiotics, antibiotic resistance is a serious issue. As a result, several techniques aimed at lowering the risk of bacterial infections in bio-implants are critical. Surface textures on a micro scale can help in the fight against Biofouling by increasing antibacterial properties, preventing bacterial adhesion, or killing or inactivating adherent microorganisms and creating an inapt environment for biofilm formation. As a result, the capacity to generate passive antibacterial surfaces on components has far-reaching consequences in practically every industry. In this study, micro-textures were generated on the surfaces of titanium (Grade 5), aluminum, and stainless steel. The topographical characteristics of the textured surfaces were studied, and a comparative study of wettability between textured and non-textured surfaces was conducted. S. aureus and E. coli, being the most common infection-causing bacteria in implants and were used to investigate the antibacterial properties. The results show that the textured surface lowers bacterial adhesion and growth up to 91.57% in comparison to the non-textured samples for E. coli and 51.40% for S. aureus, which can be related to the surface topography and the presence of peaks and troughs, which also contribute to the surface’s Hydrophilicity.