Purpose: This study aimed to monitor the surface characteristics of commercially available titanium implants coated with chitosan and magnesium oxide after sterilization by two different doses of gamma radiation as well as optimizing the most suitable dose of sterilization. Materials and Methods: A total number of 120 titanium alloy discs divided into six groups (n=20) were used. Group 1A, included implants coated with magnesium oxide (MgO), Group 1B, implants coated with MgO and sterilized with 20 KGy, Group 1C,implants coated with MgO and sterilized with 25 KGy, Group 2A, implants coated with chitosan, Group 2B, implants coated with chitosan and sterilized with 20 KGy, Group 2C, implants coated with chitosan and sterilized with 25 KGy. Characterization of the different prepared dental implant surfaces was done by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier Transform Infra-Red Spectroscopy (FTIR). Topographical identification was done using Environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM). Results: No detected changes occurred in XRD graphs after sterilization in all groups, The FTIR graph of magnesium oxide groups showed no changes while there were decrease in the intensity of all peaks in chitosan groups after sterilization. The results of surface roughness revealed that the highest mean surface roughness (μm) was recorded for chitosan after 25 KGy (189.2±7.8 μm), and the least mean surface roughness was recorded for chitosan before sterilization (135.2±12μm).
Conclusions: Titanium implants coated with Magnesium Oxide can be sterilized with either doses of gamma radiation 20 and 25 KGy while titanium implants coated with Chitosan can be sterilized with 20 KGy, whereas the 25 KGy denaturated the chitosan coating.