Biocompatible TiAu-Ag/Cu thin film coatings with enhanced mechanical and antimicrobial functionality.

Background: Biofilm formation on medical device surfaces is a persistent problem that shelters bacteria and encourages infections and implant rejection. One promising approach to tackle this problem is to coat the medical device with an antimicrobial material. In this work, for the first time, we impart antimicrobial functionality to TiAu intermetallic alloy thin film coatings, while maintaining their superior mechanical hardness and biocompatibility.