Laser remelting combined with micro-arc oxidation coating to improve the biocompatibility of titanium implants.

• A new composite coating is prepared on the laser remelted surface using micro arc oxidation. • The prepared composite coating retains the laser remelting microgroove structure. • The composite coating increases the biocompatibility. This study used a combination of laser remelting (LR) and micro-arc oxidation (MAO) treatment techniques to surface-modify TC4 alloy for implant applications. The LR-MAO coatings successfully maintained the porous structure of MAO while endowing the coatings with a microgroove structure and improving the roughness of the composite coatings. The surface morphology, physicochemical, and biological properties of the LR-MAO composite coatings were systematically investigated. The results showed that LR pretreatment is an effective method to enhance the biocompatibility of the MAO implant surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]