Titania nanotubes supported gelatin stabilized gold nanoparticles for medical implants

TiO(2) 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 TiO(2) 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. TiO(2) nanotubes were fabricated by electrochemical anodization of titanium plate using 70 wt% glycerol in deionized water with 1 wt% NH(4)F as an electrolyte. The lyophilization method has been applied to impregnate gelatin stabilized gold nanoparticles into the TiO(2) nanotubes followed by vacuum drying. This approach for tailoring different surface chemistry of TiO(2) nanotubes develops a new platform for biomedical applications.