Effect of surface modification on the photocatalysis of Ti-Ni alloy in orthodontics.

Photocatalytic activity from the reaction of titanium oxide with ultraviolet light has recently gained much attention. In particular, there is scientific interest in inducing photocatalytic reactions on Ti-Ni alloy, a material widely used in orthodontic applications. However, it is believed that inducing a photocatalytic reaction with an amorphous oxide film on the alloy is a difficult challenge. In this study, therefore, we sought to induce a photocatalytic reaction on Ti-Ni alloy by subjecting the latter to electrolytic and heat treatments. Then, an antibacterial test was used to examine whether a photocatalytic reaction had indeed been induced. By thickening the titanium oxide film with electrolytic treatment and then applying heat treatment, the surface oxide film of Ti-Ni alloy was thus modified from amorphous structure to rutile crystal. Furthermore, it was revealed that Ti-Ni alloy had an antibacterial effect by virtue of the photocatalytic reaction.