Biocompatibility Evaluation of Novel Ti-15Zr-TCP composite fabricated by powder metallurgy to enhance the antibacterial performance for dental implant application

The growing clinical demand for durable and biologically safe dental implants has accelerated the development of novel material systems that address both mechanical and biological challenges. One major limitation of conventional titanium-based implants is their insufficient antibacterial activity, which increases the risk of postoperative infections and implant failure. In this study, titanium–zirconium–β-tricalcium phosphate (Ti–15Zr–xTCP, x = 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 wt.%) composites were fabricated via powder metallurgy for testing to overcome this drawback. The objective was to enhance antibacterial properties while preserving biocompatibility. In vitro analyses confirmed that all compositions were non-hemolytic (< 5%). Antibacterial efficiency, assessed by the zone of inhibition, improved with increasing TCP content, with the 35 wt.% group exhibiting the largest inhibition zone of 14mm. This composition also demonstrated the highest MG-63 cell viability (96.27%) and supported favorable osteoblastic morphology. These findings suggest that Ti–15Zr–xTCP composites with 35 wt.% TCP offer an effective balance of antibacterial activity, cytocompatibility, and mechanical integrity, making them strong candidates for next-generation dental implants.