Electrochemical and Biological Evaluation of Patterned TiO2@TiC‐Nanowires for Bio‐Interface Electrode
5 affiliations
- 1Faculty of Science Department of Physics King Abdulaziz University (KAU) Jeddah Saudi Arabia
- 2Organic Bioelectronics Laboratory Biological Science and Engineering Division King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) Thuwal Saudi Arabia
- 3Core Labs King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) Thuwal Saudi Arabia
- 4BESE Bioscience Program King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) Thuwal Saudi Arabia
- 5Stem Cells, Organoid & Precise Engineering (SCOPE) Platform King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) Thuwal Saudi Arabia
Abstract
The next generation of bioelectronic interfaces demands materials that integrate biocompatibility, robust electrochemical performance and architectural functionality. Here, we introduce a low‐temperature fabrication approach for patterned titanium oxide‐coated titanium carbide nanowires (P‐TiO2@TiC‐NWs), utilizing room‐temperature sputter deposition, avoiding high‐temperature carbide synthesis. TiO2@TiC‐NWs combine the high‐aspect‐ratio architecture of TiO2‐NWs with the electrochemical performance of TiC, providing a tunable platform for bioelectronic interface design. By tuning sputtering pressure and duration, distinct TiC shell morphologies and compositions were engineered. Low‐pressure deposition produced a uniform conductive shell, favoring faster charge dynamics and a more ideal capacitive response, while high‐pressure deposition generated a carbon‐rich, cauliflower‐like morphology that increased electrochemically accessible surface area. TiO2@TiC‐NWs reached areal capacitances of 1.01 and 2.25 mF cm− 2 for 20 min deposition at 3 and 10 mTorr, respectively, compared with 117 µF cm− 2 and 1.35 mF cm− 2 for the corresponding planar TiC films. After 3000 cycles in physiological buffer, the 10 mTorr, 20 min sputtered sample retained 86% capacitance, while the 3 mTorr retained 75%. C2C12 myotubes cultured on P‐TiO2@TiC‐NW substrates exhibited preferential adhesion and directional alignment along the nanowire stripe axis, demonstrating the capacity of nanoscale surface topography to instruct anisotropic cell organization. Together, these features highlight P‐TiO2@TiC‐NWs as promising bioelectronic interfaces.
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BibTeX
@article{sait2026electrochemical,
title = {{Electrochemical and Biological Evaluation of Patterned TiO2@TiC‐Nanowires for Bio‐Interface Electrode}},
author = {Roaa Sait and Shofarul Wustoni and Nabeel Aslam and Camelia Florica and Andrea Diaz‐Gaxiola and Valentina‐Elena Musteata and Mohammed K. Drad and Stephen Ghandour and Georgian Melinte and Yaping Zhang and Mohammed Nejib Hedhili and Ahad Ali Syed and Menouer Saidani and Shahryar Khattak and Imed Eddine‐Gallouzi and Sahika Inal and Hala Aljawhari},
journal = {Small (Weinheim an Der Bergstrasse, Germany)},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.1002/smll.75473},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1002/smll.75473},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Electrochemical and Biological Evaluation of Patterned TiO2@TiC‐Nanowires for Bio‐Interface Electrode
AU - Roaa Sait
AU - Shofarul Wustoni
AU - Nabeel Aslam
AU - Camelia Florica
AU - Andrea Diaz‐Gaxiola
AU - Valentina‐Elena Musteata
AU - Mohammed K. Drad
AU - Stephen Ghandour
AU - Georgian Melinte
AU - Yaping Zhang
AU - Mohammed Nejib Hedhili
AU - Ahad Ali Syed
AU - Menouer Saidani
AU - Shahryar Khattak
AU - Imed Eddine‐Gallouzi
AU - Sahika Inal
AU - Hala Aljawhari
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/01
JO - Small (Weinheim an Der Bergstrasse, Germany)
DO - 10.1002/smll.75473
UR - https://doi.org/10.1002/smll.75473
AB - The next generation of bioelectronic interfaces demands materials that integrate biocompatibility, robust electrochemical performance and architectural functionality. Here, we introduce a low‐temperature fabrication approach for patterned titanium oxide‐coated titanium carbide nanowires (P‐TiO2@TiC‐NWs), utilizing room‐temperature sputter deposition, avoiding high‐temperature carbide synthesis. TiO2@TiC‐NWs combine the high‐aspect‐ratio architecture of TiO2‐NWs with the electrochemical performance of TiC, providing a tunable platform for bioelectronic interface design. By tuning sputtering pressure and duration, distinct TiC shell morphologies and compositions were engineered. Low‐pressure deposition produced a uniform conductive shell, favoring faster charge dynamics and a more ideal capacitive response, while high‐pressure deposition generated a carbon‐rich, cauliflower‐like morphology that increased electrochemically accessible surface area. TiO2@TiC‐NWs reached areal capacitances of 1.01 and 2.25 mF cm− 2 for 20 min deposition at 3 and 10 mTorr, respectively, compared with 117 µF cm− 2 and 1.35 mF cm− 2 for the corresponding planar TiC films. After 3000 cycles in physiological buffer, the 10 mTorr, 20 min sputtered sample retained 86% capacitance, while the 3 mTorr retained 75%. C2C12 myotubes cultured on P‐TiO2@TiC‐NW substrates exhibited preferential adhesion and directional alignment along the nanowire stripe axis, demonstrating the capacity of nanoscale surface topography to instruct anisotropic cell organization. Together, these features highlight P‐TiO2@TiC‐NWs as promising bioelectronic interfaces.
SN - 1613-6810
SN - 1613-6829
ER -