Magnetron Sputtering of Antibacterial and Antifungal Tantalum-Copper and Niobium-Copper Coatings on Three Dimensional-Printed Porous Titanium Alloy Scaffolds: Part II

This is Part II of a study on the antimicrobial efficacy of tantalum-copper and niobium-copper coatings, applied via magnetron sputtering (MS) on three dimensional (3D) printed porous Ti6Al4V alloy scaffolds and gas-abrasive treated Ti6Al4V alloy, against Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans. Thicker coatings were found to show superior antimicrobial activity; however, thin niobium-copper coatings and uncoated alloy did not exhibit inhibitory effects. The release dynamics of copper ions from tantalum-copper coatings into physiological solution, analysed over ten days via inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, matched the inhibition zone growth. These findings support the potential of these coatings in developing endoprosthesis implants with enhanced antimicrobial properties.