Iron, while attracting less attention than magnesium and zinc, is still one of the best candidates for biodegradable metal stents thanks its biocompatibility, great elastic moduli and high strength. Due to the low corrosion rate, and thus slow biodegradation, iron stents have still not been put into use. While these problems have still not been fully resolved, many studies have been published that propose different approaches to the issues. This brief overview report summarises the latest developments in the field of biodegradable iron-based stents and presents some techniques that can accelerate their biocorrosion rate. Basic data related to iron metabolism and its biocompatibility, the mechanism of the corrosion process, as well as a critical look at the rate of degradation of iron-based systems obtained by several different methods are included. All this illustrates as the title says, what was done within the topic of biodegradable iron-based materials and what more can be done.

The highly ordered titanium dioxide nanotube coatings were produced under various electrochemical conditions on the surface of titanium foil. The anodizati

Titania nanotube (TNT) coatings were produced using low-potential anodic oxidation of Ti6Al4V substrates in the potential range 3–20 V. They were analysed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The wettability was estimated by measuring the contact angle when applying water droplets. The bioactivity of the TNT coatings was established on the basis of the biointegration assay (L929 murine fibroblasts adhesion and proliferation) and antibacterial tests against Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 29213). The photocatalytic efficiency of the TNT films was studied by the degradation of methylene blue under UV irradiation. Among the studied coatings, the TiO₂ nanotubes obtained with the use of 5 V potential (TNT5) were found to be the most appropriate for medical applications. The TNT5 sample possessed antibiofilm properties without enriching it by additional antimicrobial agent. Furthermore, it was characterized by optimal biocompatibility, performing better than pure Ti6Al4V alloy. Moreover, the same sample was the most photocatalytically active and exhibited the potential for the sterilization of implants with the use of UV light and for other environmental applications.

An increasing interest in the fabrication of implants made of titanium and its alloys results from their capacity to be integrated into the bone system. This integration is facilitated by different modifications of the implant surface. Here, we assessed the bioactivity of amorphous titania nanoporous and nanotubular coatings (TNTs), produced by electrochemical oxidation of Ti6Al4V orthopedic implants’ surface. The chemical composition and microstructure of TNT layers was analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). To increase their antimicrobial activity, TNT coatings were enriched with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) with the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method and tested against various bacterial and fungal strains for their ability to form a biofilm. The biointegrity and anti-inflammatory properties of these layers were assessed with the use of fibroblast, osteoblast, and macrophage cell lines. To assess and exclude potential genotoxicity issues of the fabricated systems, a mutation reversal test was performed (Ames Assay MPF, OECD TG 471), showing that none of the TNT coatings released mutagenic substances in long-term incubation experiments. The thorough analysis performed in this study indicates that the TNT5 and TNT5/AgNPs coatings (TNT5—the layer obtained upon applying a 5 V potential) present the most suitable physicochemical and biological properties for their potential use in the fabrication of implants for orthopedics. For this reason, their mechanical properties were measured to obtain full system characteristics.

Crystalline materials have been synthesized in reactions of titanium(IV) tetraisobutoxide with branched organic acids (HOOCR′, R′ = CMe₂Et, ^tBu, CH₂ ^tBu) in the molar ratio 1 : 1 at room temperature under Ar atmosphere. Particular attention has been paid to the structural and spectral characterization of metastable intermediate complexes of general formula [Ti₇O₉(OⁱBu)₄(HOⁱBu)(OOCCMe₂Et)₆]₂ (1) and [Ti₆O₅(OⁱBu)₆(OOC^tBu)₈] (3), and their conversion towards more structurally stable compounds [Ti₆O₆(OⁱBu)₆(OOCC(Me)₂Et)₆] (2) and [Ti₆O₆(H₂O)₂(OⁱBu)₆(OOC^tBu)₆] (4). The hexanuclear structure of (5) ([Ti₆O₆(OⁱBu)₆(OOCCH₂ ^tBu)₆]) has been postulated on the basis of IR and ¹³C NMR spectroscopic data analysis. The possible reaction pathways which may occur during the formation of the above mentioned compounds are also discussed.

Silver nanoparticles with unique physicochemical properties and high biocide activity attract great interest in the design and in the manufacture of the new generation materials intended for biomedical technologies. This review aims to provide assessment of the bioactivity and usefulness of Ag-based materials in biomedical technologies, which are produced with the use of chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and atomic layer deposition (ALD) methods. The use of CVD and ALD technologies in the fabrication of silver layers, nanoparticles, and nanocomposites are discussed in the first part of this chapter. The second half of this review deals with the topics associated with the release of silver ions from nanoparticles or nanolayers and discusses the antimicrobial activity, bio-integration properties and toxicity of these materials.