Pulsed micro-arc oxidation (MAO) in a strongly alkaline electrolyte (pH > 13), consisting of Na2SiO3⋅9H2O and NaOH, was used to form a thin porous oxide coating consisting of two layers differing in chemical and phase composition. The unique procedure, combining MAO and removal of the outer layer by blasting, enables to prepare a coating suitable for application in temporary traumatological implants. A bilayer formed in an alkaline electrolyte environment during the application of MAO enables the formation of a wear-resistant layer with silicon incorporated in the oxide phase. Following the removal of the outer rutile-containing porous layer, the required coating properties for traumatological applications were determined. The prepared surfaces were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction patterns, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy and contact angle measurements. Cytocompatibility was evaluated using human osteoblast-like Saos-2 cells. The newly-developed surface modifications of Ti-6Al-4V ELI alloy performed satisfactorily in all cellular tests in comparison with MAO-untreated alloy and standard tissue culture plastic. High cell viability was supported, but the modifications allowed only relatively slow cell proliferation, and showed only moderate osseointegration potential without significant support for matrix mineralization. Materials with these properties are promising for utilization in temporary traumatological implants.

Charles University 2nd Faculty of Medicine 5 Uvalu 84 150 06 Prague 5 Czech Republic

Department of Materials Engineering Faculty of Mechanical Engineering Czech Technical University Prague Karlovo Namesti 293 13 120 00 Prague 2 Czech Republic

Institute of Physiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences v v i Videnska 1083 142 20 Prague 4 Czech Republic

Nanotechnology Centre VSB Technical University of Ostrava 17 Listopadu 15 2172 70833 Ostrava Czech Republic

VUHZ a s 739 51 Dobra Czech Republic

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