Surface modification of biomedical metals by double glow plasma surface alloying technology: A review of recent advances

Double glow plasma surface alloying (DGPSA) technology is a fascinating strategy for modifying metal materials with promoted surface performances. Especially after nearly 40 years of development, this technology has played an increasing role in biomedical metal surface modification to improve antibacterial ability, biocompatibility, osteogenic activity, etc. This review briefly overviews surface modification of biomedical metals by DGPSA technology. The origin and development, fundamental mechanism, and coating charac-teristics of DGPSA technology, the recent progress of DGPSA technology in preparing coatings for antibacterial application (e.g., silver-based coatings, copper-based coatings, multimetallic antibacterial coatings), as well as coatings for implantable application (e.g., tantalum-based coatings, zirconium-based coatings, and niobium-based coatings), are summarized. Notably, the respective design consideration, characteristics, and properties of each coating have been consistently reviewed. This technology has significant advan-tages in preparing biomedical metallic coatings with high bonding strength, regardless of the high melting point of the target metals. Thus, we firmly believe that, by combining with practical target design, 'DGPSA thorn ' strategy, and systematic performance evaluation, this new emerging technology will find its further development in surface modification of biomedical metals.& COPY; 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

Automated summary

DGPSA technology is a fascinating method for modifying metal materials with improved surface performances, and it has played an increasingly important role in biomedical metal surface modification.