Article
Titania Nanotube Architectures Synthesized on 3D-Printed
Ti-6Al-4V Implant and Assessing Vancomycin Release Protocols
H-thaichnok Chunate
1
, Jirapon Khamwannah
1
, Abdul Azeez Abdu Aliyu
1,2
, Saran Tantavisut
3
,
Chedtha Puncreobutr
1,2
, Atchara Khamkongkaeo
1
, Chiraporn Tongyam
1
, Krittima Tumkhanon
1
,
Thanawat Phetrattanarangsi
1,4
, Theerapat Chanamuangkon
5
, Torlarp Sitthiwanit
1
, Dechawut Decha-umphai
1,4
,
Pharanroj Pongjirawish
4
and Boonrat Lohwongwatana
1,2,
*
Citation: Chunate, H.-t.;
Khamwannah, J.; Aliyu, A.A.A.;
Tantavisut, S.; Puncreobutr, C.;
Khamkongkaeo, A.; Tongyam, C.;
Tumkhanon, K.; Phetrattanarangsi, T.;
Chanamuangkon, T.; et al. Titania
Nanotube Architectures Synthesized
on 3D-Printed Ti-6Al-4V Implant and
Assessing Vancomycin Release
Protocols. Materials 2021, 14, 6576.
https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14216576
Academic Editor: Ludwig Cardon
Received: 10 September 2021
Accepted: 26 October 2021
Published: 1 November 2021
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Attribution (CC BY) license (https://
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4.0/).
1
M3D Laboratory, Advanced Materials Analysis Research Unit, Department of Metallurgical Engineering,
Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand;
hthaichnok721@gmail.com (H.-t.C.); Jkhamwan@gmail.com (J.K.); garoabdul@gmail.com (A.A.A.A.);
chedtha@gmail.com (C.P.); atchara.k@gmail.com (A.K.); ma_uksa@hotmail.com (C.T.);
t.krittima@gmail.com (K.T.); thanawat@meticuly.com (T.P.); torlarpsitthiwanit@gmail.com (T.S.);
dechawut@meticuly.com (D.D.-u.)
2
Biomedical Engineering Research Center, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
3
Hip Fracture Research Unit, Department of Orthopaedic, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University,
Bangkok 10330, Thailand; super_petch@yahoo.com
4
Biomechanics Research Center, Meticuly Co. Ltd., Pathumwan, Wang Mai District, Bangkok 10330, Thailand;
pharanroj@meticuly.com
5
Biomaterial Testing Center, Faculty of Dentistry, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand;
teera.pat.n61@gmail.com
* Correspondence: boonrat@gmail.com
Abstract:
The aim of this study is to synthesize Titania nanotubes (TNTs) on the 3D-printed Ti-6Al-4V
surface and investigate the loading of antibacterial vancomycin drug dose of 200 ppm for local
drug treatment application for 24 h. The antibacterial drug release from synthesized nanotubes
evaluated via the chemical surface measurement and the linear fitting of Korsmeyer–Peppas model
was also assessed. The TNTs were synthesized on the Ti-6Al-4V surface through the anodization
process at different anodization time. The TNTs morphology was characterized using field emission
scanning electron microscope (FESEM). The wettability and the chemical composition of the Ti-6Al-
4V surface and the TNTs were assessed using the contact angle meter, Fourier transform infrared
spectrophotometer (FTIR) and the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The vancomycin of
200 ppm release behavior under controlled atmosphere was measured by the high-performance
liquid chromatography (HPLC) and hence, the position for retention time at 2.5 min was ascertained.
The FESEM analysis confirmed the formation of nanostructured TNTs with vertically oriented, closely
packed, smooth and unperforated walls. The maximum cumulative vancomycin release of 34.7%
(69.5 ppm) was recorded at 24 h. The wetting angle of both Ti-6Al-4V implant and the TNTs were
found below 90 degrees. This confirmed their excellent wettability.
Keywords: 3D printing; Ti-6Al-4V; titania nanotubes; vancomycin; electrostatic interaction
1. Introduction
The cases related to bone fracture operations are progressively rising annually. This is
due to an annual increase in aging population and traffic accidents. Thus, there is increasing
demand for bone fixation implants such as plate or intramedullary nail. The most common
materials used to fabricate orthopaedic implants include stainless steel, cobalt-chromium,
titanium and its alloys [1–3].
Peri-implant infection is one of the most serious complication after surgery. Aside
strict sterilization procedures, the rate of bacterial infection is reported at 1 to 4% in previ-
ous literature [
4
]. The economics of global burden for the treatment of orthopedic infection
Materials 2021, 14, 6576. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14216576 https://www.mdpi.com/journal/materials
