Titanium oxide antibacterial surfaces in biomedical devices

Titanium oxide is a heterogeneous catalyst whose efficient photoinduced activity, related to some of its allotropic forms, paved the way for its widespread technological use. Here, we offer a comparative analysis of the use of titanium oxide as coating for materials in biomedical devices. First, we introduce the photoinduced catalytic mechanisms of TiO ₂ and their action on biological environment and bacteria. Second, we overview the main physical and chemical technologies for structuring suitable TiO ₂ coatings on biomedical devices. We then present the approaches for in vitro characterization of these surfaces. Finally, we discuss the main aspects of TiO ₂ photoactivated antimicrobial activity on medical devices and limitations for these types of applications.