The success of implant treatment is dependent on the osseointegration of the implant. The main goal of this work was to improve the biofunctionality of the Ti-13Nb-13Zr implant alloy by the production of oxide nanotubes (ONTs) layers for better anchoring in the bone and use as an intelligent carrier in drug delivery systems. Anodization of the Ti-13Nb-13Zr alloy was carried out in 0.5% HF, 1 M (NH4)2SO4 + 2% NH4F, and 1 M ethylene glycol + 4 wt.% NH4F electrolytes. Physicochemical characteristics of ONTs were performed by high-resolution electron microscopy (HREM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and scanning Kelvin probe (SKP). Water contact angle studies were conducted using the sitting airdrop method. In vitro biological properties and release kinetics of ibuprofen were investigated. The results of TEM and XPS studies confirmed the formation of the single-walled ONTs of three generations on the bi-phase (α + β) Ti-13Nb-13Zr alloy. The ONTs were composed of oxides of the alloying elements. The proposed surface modification method ensured good hemolytic properties, no cytotoxity for L-929 mouse cells, good adhesion, increased surface wettability, and improved athrombogenic properties of the Ti-13Nb-13Zr alloy. Nanotubular surfaces allowed ibuprofen to be released from the polymer matrix according to the Gallagher-Corrigan model.

Artificial Heart Laboratory Professor Zbigniew Religa Foundation of Cardiac Surgery Development 345a Wolności 41 800 Zabrze Poland

August Chełkowski Institute of Physics Faculty of Science and Technology University of Silesia in Katowice 75 Pułku Piechoty 1A 41 500 Chorzów Poland

Department of Physics Faculty of Science University of Hradec Králové Rokitanského 62 500 03 Hradec Králové Czech Republic

Faculty of Biomedical Engineering Silesian University of Technology 40 Roosevelt 41 800 Zabrze Poland

Institute of Ceramics and Building Materials Refractory Materials Center Łukasiewicz Research Network Toszecka 99 44 100 Gliwice Poland

Institute of Materials Engineering Faculty of Science and Technology University of Silesia in Katowice 75 Pułku Piechoty 1A 41 500 Chorzów Poland

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