Covalent Grafting of Tanfloc on Titania Nanotube Arrays: An Approach to Mitigate Bacterial Adhesion and Improve the Antibacterial Efficacy of Titanium Implants

Implanted medical devices often face the challenge of infections, which can compromise their successful integration and use. To address this issue, this study demonstrates the covalent grafting of a tannin-based antimicrobial biopolymer tanfloc (TAN) onto the titania nanotube arrays (TiNTs) surface to enhance antibacterial properties. Due to its polyphenolic and ionic structural configuration, tanfloc possesses unique properties that enable it to interact with and disrupt bacterial cell walls and membranes. Combining the topographical effect of TiNTs with the inherent antibacterial properties of tanfloc, this approach aims to mitigate bacterial threats on medical implants effectively. The successful attachment of tanfloc on TiNTs is confirmed through X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The antibacterial and antibiofilm efficacy of the tanfloc-functionalized TiNTs is evaluated against Staphylococcus aureus (Gram-positive) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Gram-negative) bacteria. The findings suggest that the covalent conjugation of tanfloc onto TiNTs is a promising approach to improve the infection resistance of titanium-based medical implants, with potential applications in orthopedic, dental, and other biomedical device areas.