Tantalum-Doped 58S Bioactive Glass Coatings for Corrosion-Resistant CoCrMo Implants

This work investigates the electrodeposition of tantalum-doped 58S bioactive glass onto porous CoCrMo alloy substrates to improve the material's compatibility with orthopedic implant systems. The evaporation-induced self-assembly (EISA) method was used in order to produce tantalum-doped 58S bioactive glass. This method ensured that the structural organization was under control. The addition of tantalum greatly enhances the bioactivity and osteoconductive properties of the coatings, thereby promoting rapid tissue healing and strong osseointegration at the implant interface. The 58S and 58S-0.6Ta bioactive glass coatings were shown to clearly improve cell survival and proliferation, as demonstrated by comparative in vitro investigations, thereby reinforcing their critical role in promoting favorable biological responses and enhancing implant integration. This finding highlights the significance that surface modification plays in enhancing cell–material interactions and overall biological performance. Electrochemical analysis, performed using potentiodynamic polarization (PDP) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), revealed that coated substrates showed improved resistance to corrosion in simulated bodily fluid (SBF) compared to uncoated control substrates. The findings presented here shed light on the potential of tantalum-doped bioactive glass coatings as a viable and innovative approach to enhance the functionality, biological performance, corrosion resistance, and long-term durability of CoCrMo orthopedic implants under demanding physiological conditions.