Titanium based materials slowly induce the formation of a fibrous layer after several years of implantation, compromising the quality of bone/implant interface and leading progressively to an aseptic loosening of the implants. The functionalization of Titanium based materials by bioactive polymers bearing ionic groups has been shown to be an excellent solution to improve the osseous integration of the implant.

Our laboratory has demonstrated that the grafting of bioactive polymers onto biomaterials can improve cell and antibacterial response. The objective of this work is to develop the grafting of a bioactive polymer onto new Titanium alloys of particular structure as named “harmonic structure”.

The grafting of a bioactive polymer on new Titanium alloys of particular structure named “harmonic structure” was realized in a two-steps reaction process using chemical oxidation and UV irradiation. Titanium alloys samples were (1) oxidized in a mixture of sulfuric acid and hydrogen peroxide allowing the formation of titanium hydroxides and peroxides, (2) then incubated with an aqueous solution of sodium styrene sulfonate and placed under UV irradiation to induce the decomposition of titanium peroxides and the formation of radicals initiating the polymerization of the monomer. Different parameters such as polymerization time and lamp power were studied in order to optimize the yield of poly(sodium styrene sulfonate) grafting. Colorimetric assay, Fourier-transformed infrared spectra recorded in an attenuated total reflection (ATR-FTIR), scanning electron microscopy with Oxford energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) and contact angle measurements were applied to characterize the surfaces.

Various techniques showed that the grafting of ionic polymers bearing sulfonate groups was successful by using radicals from titanium peroxides able to initiate the radical polymerization of ionic monomers onto new Titanium alloys of particular structure named “harmonic structure”.

We have applied the methods used previously in the laboratory in terms of bioactive polymers grafting in particular by UV irradiation onto the surface of new developed titanium alloys with or without harmonic structure. In parallel, a preliminary biological response study to assess toxicity, cell viability, adhesion and morphology on the different titanium alloys functionalized or not by bioactive polymers giving encouraging results.