Super-antibacterial Ti surfaces via pulse laser 3D patterning of Ag followed by catalytic ceramic conversion

微生物传播的控制是生物医学应用的关键问题。表面上细菌和其他病原体的存在会导致有害的生物效应，例如感染或植入失败，因此污染控制至关重要。常见的灭菌技术包括消毒剂和高强度光，然而这些过程具有有限的持续时间，并且重新暴露于环境将重新引入污染物。此外，重复使用灭菌技术可能具有有害的健康影响，因此固有的抗菌性能是期望的。材料的表面图案化已被证明在抵抗细菌粘附和生物膜形成方面是有效的，此外，离子（例如银）的注入已经建立了抗微生物作用的先例。在这个博士项目中，将设计和创建用于生物医学应用的新型超级抗菌钛表面。为此，将使用脉冲激光打印在钛表面上沉积3D图案化的Ag，然后进行先进的催化陶瓷转化，以产生创新的3D图案化的掺杂Ag的TiO 2，结合表面图案化和抗菌材料掺杂。此外，图案化的类金刚石碳（DLC）的沉积和不同的基板上的性能将被检查。DLC具有优异的生物相容性以及高硬度和低摩擦系数，使其广泛适用于生物医学应用;表面DLC可以帮助植入物上的组织形成，并防止离子从金属基材释放。DLC涂层还提供了通过在注塑插入件中使用来模板化抗菌图案的机会。此外，DLC涂层减少了阻碍模具填充的摩擦力以及脱模所需的力，从而提高了零件生产的性能，并延长了模具寿命。飞秒激光加工有助于精确形成纹理表面，因此，激光诱导的周期性表面结构（LIPSS）将在DLC上产生抗菌功效;然后可以将图案转移到注塑塑料上，例如用于塑料制品的图案。如有必要，三束（激光，离子和电子）表面选择性合金化与N和O将进一步提高性能进行研究。三维层结构，微观结构和界面将使用三束设备，AFM，XPS，拉曼光谱，SEM和TEM进行充分研究。机械性能将使用环境纳米压痕平台进行探测，功能图案化表面的耐久性将通过电化学和摩擦学测试进行评估。将对所涉及的机制进行调查，以促进科学认识。

Control of microorganism spread is a key concern for biomedical applications. The presence of bacteria and other pathogens on surfaces can lead to detrimental biological effects, such as infection or implant failure, hence contamination control is vital. Common sterilisation techniques include disinfectants, and high intensity light, however these processes have limited duration and re-exposure to environments will reintroduce contaminants. Furthermore, repeated use of sterilisation techniques may have deleterious health effects, therefore inherent antibacterial properties are desirable Surface patterning of materials has been evidenced to be effective in resisting bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation, furthermore implantation of ions, such as silver, has established precedent for antimicrobial action. Within this PhD project, novel super-antibacterial Ti surfaces for biomedical applications will be designed and created. To this end, 3D patterned Ag will be deposited on titanium surfaces using pulse laser printing followed by advanced catalytic ceramic conversion to generate innovative 3D patterned TiO2 doped with Ag, combining both surface patterning and antibacterial material doping. Furthermore, patterned diamond-like carbon (DLC) deposition and properties on varied substrates will be examined. DLC presents excellent biocompatibility in conjunction with high hardness and low coefficients of friction, making it widely applicable for biomedical applications; surface DLC can act to both aid tissue formation on implants, and to prevent ion release from metallic substrates. DLC coatings also present opportunity for templating of antibacterial patterns through use in injection moulding inserts. Moreover, DLC coatings reduce the friction which opposes mould infilling as well as the forces required for demoulding, therefore improving performance of part production, and increasing mould lives. Femtosecond laser processing facilitates precise formation of textured surfaces, hence, laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS) will be produced on DLC for antibacterial efficacy; patterns which may then be transferred onto injection moulded plastics, such as those used in orthodontics. If necessary, tri-beam (laser, ion, and electron) surface selective alloying with N and O will be investigated for further property enhancement. The 3D layer structures, microstructures and interfaces will be fully studied using the tri-beam facility, AFM, XPS, Raman spectroscopy, SEM, and TEM. The mechanical properties will be probed using an environmental nano-indentation platform, and the durability of the functionally patterned surfaces will be evaluated through electrochemical and tribological testing. The mechanisms involved will be investigated to advance scientific understanding.