Improving the lubricity of titanium alloy joint by using tough, antibacterial and strongly adhesive hydrogel

Abstract

Titanium alloy, especially Ti6Al4V, has gained widespread recognition as a material for joint implant. Aiming at the problems such as high friction and easy infection of Ti6Al4V implant materials in practical applications, a strategy of surface modification of Ti6Al4V was proposed. Inspired by the articular cartilage, a tough hydrogel integrated with lubricating and antibacterial properties was prepared in this work, and tightly applied to the Ti6Al4V surface with an adhesive agent. The strength of the hydrogel coating was similar to that of human articular cartilage, and play remarkable lubricating and antibacterial effects at the same time. This work presented new perspectives on the application of hydrogel coatings in biomedicine, underwater equipment, smart manipulation, and other fields.