RESUMO
Titanium dioxide nanotubes combine the geometrical properties of a tubular structure with the physico-chemical properties of TiO2. The nanotubes improve the surface characteristics of a material such as titanium, which possesses high mechanical resistance, and low density, enhancing its use for biomedical devices. The nanotubular layer increases the device's interaction with cells. In this paper, we discuss various aspects of the anodizing technique to obtain ordered nanotubes and careful control of the process parameters to obtain highly ordered TiO2 nanotubes. Also, we review the biological activity of TiO2 nanotubes, the effect of nanotube size on bioactivity, and the antibacterial effect of TiO2 nanotubes without doping. Finally, novel applications of TiO2 nanotubes employed as a biomaterial are discussed.