The Modification of Titanium Surface by Decomposition of Tannic Acid Coating

Titanium is one of the most widely used metals in implantology owing to its reduced modulus, improved corrosion resistance and good biocompatibility. In spite of its excellent biocompatibility, it does not exhibit inherent antibacterial and antioxidant activity. Tannic acid is a naturally occurring polyphenol compound which exhibits excellent antibacterial, antioxidant and antimutagenic activity. The development of tannic acid-based coatings on the titanium surface holds great potential to reduce the risks associated with implant applications, thereby increasing the longevity of implants. In the present study, tannic acid was deposited on the titanium surface and the surface displayed a slightly improved hydrophilic character with an increase in surface energy. The release kinetics of tannic acid from titanium surface was analyzed and it showed an initial burst effect followed by a gradual decrease over time. Hemolysis tests revealed the erythrocyte compatibility of the developed surfaces. The improved hydrophilicity observed the release kinetics of tannic acid and reduced hemolysis rates revealed the potential of this facile technique for implant surface engineering applications.