Implant related infection is a serious problem in orthopaedic surgery. An antibacterial and biocompatible copper with a sol–gel derived titania coating (Cu–TiO2) could be an appropriate approach for the treatment of such infections. Before clinical application, the coatings must be sterilised. The effects of autoclaving and gamma irradiation on the antibacterial coating have not yet been fully investigated. Titanium alloy (TiAl4V6) plates with different numbers of Cu–TiO2 coatings applied were analysed after autoclaving or gamma irradiation. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to investigate the surface structure of the coating and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) was used to investigate the distribution of copper ions in three different areas. Examinations by SEM and EDX showed more significant changes to the surface of the coating after autoclaving compared to gamma irradiation. Gamma irradiation seems to be the most appropriate method of sterilisation for the tested antibacterial Cu–TiO2 coatings.
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