EGCG/Zn coating on titanium implants by one-step hydrothermal method for improving anticorrosion, antibacterial and osteogenesis properties

Titanium (Ti) -based implants are widely used for hard tissue replacement and repair. However, it remains a challenge to improve their osseointegration performance for avoiding peri-implant diseases and even implant failure in their clinical applications, which mainly result from their bio-inertness, adverse tissue reactions to corrosion products and implant-related bacterial infections. Herein, we reported the facile construction of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)/Zn coatings on Ti substrates for improving their comprehensive performance by an one-step hydrothermal method, and investigated the structure, physicochemical characteristics, corrosion resistance, antibacterial and osteogenesis properties of coatings formed at different hydrothermal temperature. The results showed that the hydrothermal temperature would significantly affect the structure of EGCG/Zn coatings, which consisted of EGCG-Zn2+ ion complexes and ZnO nanoparticles, and 120 °C was more favorable for the formation of EGCG-Zn2+ in the coating. More importantly, the EGCG/Zn coating obtained at 120 °C exhibited excellent corrosion resistance, antibacterial activities, ability of biomimetic mineralization, and osteogenic properties, showing a great potential for optimizing the comprehensive performance of titanium-based implants for dental and orthopedic applications.