Laser surface modification is a widely available and simple technique that can be applied to different types of materials. It has been shown that by using a laser heat source, reproducible surfaces can be obtained, which is particularly important when developing materials for medical applications. The laser modification of titanium and its alloys is advantageous due to the possibility of controlling selected parameters and properties of the material, which offers the prospect of obtaining a material with the characteristics required for biomedical applications. This paper analyzes the effect of laser modification without material growth on titanium and its alloys. It addresses issues related to the surface roughness parameters, wettability, and corrosion resistance, and discusses how laser modification changes the hardness and wear resistance of materials. A thorough review of the literature on the subject provides a basis for the scientific community to develop further experiments based on the already investigated relationships between the effects of the laser beam and the surface at the macro, micro, and nano level.

Hybrid modification, combining Nd: YAG laser and micro-arc oxidation, enhances biomaterials like titanium alloys by improving biocompatibility and corrosion resistance. This study investigates the chemical composition of modified surfaces and their performance in corrosion tests, with implications for implantology. Results show that hybrid treatment improves ion implantation efficiency and corrosion resistance compared to MAO alone, offering promising benefits for the Ti13Nb13Zr alloy. For instance, the Nd: YAG (1000W)-MAO modification exhibits superior corrosion resistance compared to other methods. Graphical abstract

A double-coated Ti13Nb13Zr alloy was created by arc micro-oxidation (MAO) and subsequent electrophoretic deposition (EPD). The MAO ceramic was enriched with zinc ions, while the EPD-deposited chitosan coating contained silver nanoparticles. Both elements are important for the potential medical applications of the carved base material. To investigate the effects of the modification, morphological imaging by SEM, and spectroscopy analysis like EDS, XPS, and FTIR were performed. In addition, surface roughness, immersion, and wettability tests were carried out. Fabricated samples were also subjected to porosity, microhardness, and corrosion examination. The tests indicated that the MAO modifications carried out yielded a ceramic layer free of defects, while the most porous layer was found to be the one with a processing time of 10 min (MAO10). EPD coatings allowed the MAO pores to be covered, which did not reduce the surface roughness. Chemical bonding and composition studies confirmed the presence of Zn and Ag ions for each of the MAO and MAO_EPD modifications, with the XPS study showing these elements to be in oxide form. Roughness tests showed that the presence of the EPD coating generates increased standard deviations, which may be indicative of an irregular modified area, while a wetting test showed that each modified surface is hydrophilic and the MAO_EPD samples exhibit higher contact angle values than the single MAO modification. Corrosion resistance tests did not reveal a significant improvement compared to the native material; however, the obtained values are satisfactory for medical applications. All E_corr values remained in the nanoampere per square centimeter range—for example, Ref. Ecorr: -0.263 ± 0.01 V; MAO10_EPD Ecorr: -0.012 ± 0.001 V. No substantial differences were observed between the various surface modification groups. The proposed modifications are promising in terms of apatite crystallization capacity. The primary biomedical application is expected to be in orthopedic implants

This study investigates the damage behavior and surface integrity of chitosan–nanohydroxyapatite (CS/nHAp) composite coatings, along with their corrosion resistance and wettability, which directly affect their biological performance in vivo. The coatings were deposited on Ti13Zr13Nb and stainless steel using electrophoretic deposition (EPD) at various voltages and deposition times. Surface topography, morphology, composition, and roughness were characterized using microscopic techniques, while wettability, corrosion resistance, and mechanical properties were assessed. Three-point bending tests were performed to determine coating behavior under mechanical deformation. Hydrophilic, homogeneous CS/nHAp coatings were successfully deposited without visible cracks on the surface. Coatings deposited at 10 V exhibited higher corrosion potentials compared to uncoated titanium alloy. Mechanical testing showed that coatings deposited at 10 V were significantly harder than those deposited at 20 V. The CS/nHAp20_5 coating exhibited moderate hardness (0.33 ± 0.06 GPa), the lowest Young’s modulus (12.7 ± 1.4 GPa), increased flexibility, and good adhesion, without delamination during bending tests. These results demonstrate that by modifying deposition parameters, it is possible to adjust the mechanical and protective properties of CS/nHAp coatings for potential application of the developed coating in vascular stents.

In this study, multifunctional composite coatings based on chitosan (CS), mesoporous bioactive glass nanoparticles (MBGNPs), and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were successfully deposited on Ti-13Nb-13Zr alloy by electrophoretic deposition (EPD). Two coating systems containing Eudragit E100 (EE100) or poly(4-vinylpyridine) (P4VP) were developed to tailor physicochemical and biological properties. The synthesized MBGNPs exhibited a spherical morphology with an average particle size of approximately 80 nm, as observed by TEM, while XRD analysis confirmed their amorphous structure. Both coatings formed uniform porous layers (∼10 µm thick) with excellent adhesion to the substrate (class 1, EN ISO 2409). Surface characterization revealed significantly increased roughness and distinct wettability behavior depending on polymer composition. CS/EE100 coatings exhibited hydrophobic character and low surface free energy, whereas CS/P4VP coatings showed highly hydrophilic behavior with increased surface energy. Electrochemical studies demonstrated enhanced electrochemical activity of coated samples, particularly for the P4VP-based system, associated with its porous and hydrophilic structure. Ion release studies confirmed time-dependent calcium release from MBGNPs and significantly higher silver ion release from CS/P4VP coatings, especially under acidic conditions. Both coatings exhibited strong antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, achieving up to ∼2.4 log reduction. Cytocompatibility studies using hFOB 1.19 osteoblast-like cells demonstrated that the CS/P4VP/MBGNPs/AgNPs coating maintained high cell viability (>80%) despite increased Ag+ release, while both coatings maintained alkaline phosphatase activity. Overall, the P4VP-based coating demonstrated the most favorable balance between antibacterial activity, ion release, and cytocompatibility, highlighting its potential for advanced biomedical implant applications.