Titania nanotubes supported gelatin stabilized gold nanoparticles for medical implants

TiO₂ nanotube (TN) arrays produced by electrochemical anodization have been studied extensively in recent years as a new biomaterial for implants, drug delivery systems, immuno-isolation, biosensors, cell growth, bioartifical organs and tissue engineering. A bare TiO₂ nanotube implant has many weaknesses when placed in contact with biological systems and surface modification is a possible solution for this problem. The aim of this study is to develop a very simple method for surface modification of TiO ₂ nanotubes to tailor new interfacial properties important in many biomedical applications. TiO₂ nanotubes were fabricated by electrochemical anodization of titanium plate using 70 wt% glycerol in deionized water with 1 wt% NH₄F as an electrolyte. The lyophilization method has been applied to impregnate gelatin stabilized gold nanoparticles into the TiO₂ nanotubes followed by vacuum drying. This approach for tailoring different surface chemistry of TiO₂ nanotubes develops a new platform for biomedical applications.