Cerium doped TiO2 coating with superior antibacterial property and biocompatibility prepared by micro-arc oxidation

Peri-implantitis is a highly prevalent disease caused by bacterial plaque that results in inflammation. The disease starts from the soft tissue and gradually spreads to the hard tissue around the implant. If left untreated, it can lead to decreased bone density and loss of the implant. Therefore, it is crucial to improve the antibacterial and biological activity of implants to achieve dual functions. In this study, we prepared a Ce-doped TiO2 coating on the surface of pure titanium by micro-arc oxidation (MAO) for the prevention of peri-implantitis. We systematically investigated the physicochemical properties, antibacterial activity, and biocompatibility of Ce-doped coatings in vitro and in vivo. The results demonstrated that the increase of Ce concentration in the coating could increase the proliferation, adhesion and osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs in vitro. Results from in vivo osteogenesis experiments demonstrated that the 2Ce-MAO coating exhibited superior efficacy in promoting implant repair in osteoporotic rats. Furthermore, the results of in vitro and in vivo antibacterial experiments indicated that the Ce-TiO2 coating exhibits excellent antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. These findings suggest that the Ce-TiO2 coating prepared via MAO may be a promising approach for preventing peri-implantitis and promoting osteogenesis in osteoporosis.