Polydopamine-based surface coating fabrication on titanium implant by combining a photothermal agent and TiO2 nanosheets for efficient photothermal antibacterial therapy and promoted osteogenic activity

Developing titanium-based dental implants with both excellent antibacterial properties and good osseointegration is crucial for the success of the implant operation and the long-term durability of the implant. In this study, a polydopamine-based coating was created by attaching TiO 2 nanosheets-cyanine composites onto the titanium surface, enabling the integration of effective photothermal antibacterial therapy with osseointegration. The exceptional dual-photothermal conversion abilities of polydopamine and cyanine in the coating resulted in outstanding photothermal antibacterial and antibiofilm therapy against four types of bacteria. Furthermore, TiO 2 nanosheets promoted the adhesion, proliferation and early osteogenic differentiation of osteoblasts. In an infected dental implant model in rats, the developed coating exhibited potent antibacterial activity and remarkable osteogenic differentiation in the bone, leading to increased bone formation around the implants. This innovative approach, combining photothermal therapy with osteogenic two-dimensional nanomaterials, presents a novel method for surface functionalization of implants to achieve effective antibacterial and osseointegration capabilities.