The effect of silver nanoparticles on biological and corrosion behavior of electrophoretically deposited hydroxyapatite film on Ti6Al4V

Surface modification of titanium and its alloys has been seriously considered by researchers to improve their biological behaviors, in the past few decades. In present research, hydroxyapatite (HA) based composite coatings with different concentrations of 0, 2, 4, and 6 wt% of silver (Ag) nanoparticles were electrophoretically deposited (EPD) on anodized and non-anodized Ti6Al4V, using a direct current at a voltage of 30 V for 10 min at room temperature. The specimens were then characterized by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipped with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The cell adhesion images and cell viability results showed that HA-Ag composite coatings significantly promoted the biocompatibility of samples compared with the non-anodized and anodized Ti6Al4V. The viabilities of Mg-63 cells on HA-4%Ag coating and bi-layer coating (HA-4%Ag on anodized specimen) were approximately 91% and they were considered as the best coatings in term of biocompatibility. On the other hand, the antibacterial assessments demonstrated that HA-6%Ag coating had the best antibacterial performance compared with other samples. Furthermore, Tafel polarization curves indicated that corrosion resistance of the bi-layer coating was higher than those of the other specimens. The polarization resistance of this coating was about 7 times more than that of theTi6Al4V alloy.

In situ titanium phosphate formation on a titanium implant as ultrahigh bonding with nano-hydroxyapatite coating for rapid osseointegration

Titanium (Ti) has been widely used as a dental implant material due to its excellent mechanical property and good biocompatibility. However, its poor biological activity severely limits its ability to bond with bony tissues. To ameliorate this situation, a preparation method of ultra-high bonding nano-hydroxyapatite (n-HA) coating on the Ti surface is urgently needed. Here, Ti phosphate/n-HA (TiP-Ca) composite coatings with ultra-high bonding were prepared by a two-step hydrothermal treatment. The TiP coating was first formed in situ on the pure Ti substrate and then n-HA crystals further grew on the TiP surface. The formation mechanism of composite coating and reasons for increased bonding strength were systematically investigated. The results show that the TiP-Ca coating remains stable and exhibits an ultra-high bonding strength with the Ti implant (up to 783.30 ± 207.46 N). An effective solution was designed to address the problems of easy peel off. Cell experiments showed that TiP-Ca could promote the adhesion of MC3T3-E1 and expression of OCN, Runx2, and ALP. In vivo evaluation further confirmed that the TiP-Ca composite coating significantly enhanced osseointegration. The designed coating shows great potential in clinical application of implants.

Retraction: Investigation on corrosion protection and mechanical performance of minerals substituted hydroxyapatite coating on HELCDEB-treated titanium using pulsed electrodeposition method

Retraction of ‘Investigation on corrosion protection and mechanical performance of minerals substituted hydroxyapatite coating on HELCDEB-treated titanium using pulsed electrodeposition method’ by D. Gopi et al., RSC Adv., 2014, 4, 34751–34759. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/C4RA04484C.

Biowaste derived hydroxyapatite embedded on two-dimensional g-C3N4 nanosheets for degradation of hazardous dye and pharmacological drug via Z-scheme charge transfer

In recent years, there has been an increase in demand for inexpensive biowaste-derived photocatalysts for the degradation of hazardous dyes and pharmacological drugs. Here, we developed eggshell derived hydroxyapatite nanoparticles entrenched on two-dimensional g-C₃N₄ nanosheets. The structural, morphological and photophysical behavior of the materials is confirmed through various analytical techniques. The photocatalytic performance of the highly efficient HAp/gC₃N₄ photocatalyst is evaluated against methylene blue (MB) and doxycycline drug contaminates under UV–visible light exposure. The HAp/gC₃N₄ photocatalyst exhibit excellent photocatalytic performance for MB dye (93.69%) and doxycycline drug (83.08%) compared to bare HAp and g-C₃N₄ nanosheets. The ultimate point to note is that the HAp/gC₃N₄ photocatalyst was recycled in four consecutive cycles without any degradation performance. Superoxide radicals play an important role in degradation performance, which has been confirmed by scavenger experiments. Therefore, the biowaste-derived HAp combined with gC₃N₄ nanosheets is a promising photocatalyst for the degradation of hazardous dyes and pharmacological drug wastes.

UV-Cured Chitosan and Gelatin Hydrogels for the Removal of As(V) and Pb(II) from Water

In this study, new photocurable biobased hydrogels deriving from chitosan and gelatin are designed and tested as sorbents for As(V) and Pb(II) removal from water. Those renewable materials were modified by a simple methacrylation reaction in order to make them light processable. The success of the reaction was evaluated by both ¹H-NMR and FTIR spectroscopy. The reactivity of those formulations was subsequently investigated by a real-time photorheology test. The obtained hydrogels showed high swelling capability reaching up to 1200% in the case of methacrylated gelatin (GelMA). Subsequently, the Z-potential of the methacrylated chitosan (MCH) and GelMA was measured to correlate their electrostatic surface characteristics with their adsorption properties for As(V) and Pb(II). The pH of the solutions proved to have a huge influence on the As(V) and Pb(II) adsorption capacity of the obtained hydrogels. Furthermore, the effect of As(V) and Pb(II) initial concentration and contact time on the adsorption capability of MCH and GelMA were investigated and discussed. The MCH and GelMA hydrogels demonstrated to be promising sorbents for the removal of heavy metals from polluted waters.

Solvothermal Synthesis of Calcium-Deficient Hydroxyapatite via Hydrolysis of α-Tricalcium Phosphate in Different Aqueous-Organic Media

In the present work, the effects of various organic solvents (solvent nature and fraction within the solution) and solvothermal conditions on the formation of calcium-deficient hydroxyapatite (CDHA) via hydrolysis of α-tricalcium phosphate (α-TCP) are investigated. The wet precipitation method is applied for α-TCP synthesis, and the hydrolysis reaction is performed in solutions with different water-to-organic solvent ratios under solvothermal conditions at 120 °C for 3 h and at 200 °C for 5 h. Ethyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, and butyl alcohol did not inhibit the hydrolysis of α-TCP, while methyl alcohol and ethylene glycol have a more prominent inhibitory effect on the hydrolysis, hence the formation of single-phased CDHA. From all the solvents analysed, ethylene glycol has the highest impact on the sample morphology. Under certain water to ethylene glycol ratios and solvothermal conditions, samples containing a significant fraction of rods are obtained. However, samples prepared with ethylene glycol are characterised by a particularly low BET surface area.

Preparation and Biocompatibility of Poly Methyl Methacrylate (PMMA)-Mesoporous Bioactive Glass (MBG) Composite Scaffolds

In recent years, the rising number of bone diseases which affect millions of people worldwide has led to an increased demand for materials with restoring and augmentation properties that can be used in therapies for bone pathologies. In this work, PMMA- MBG composite scaffolds containing ceria (0, 1, 3 mol%) were obtained by the phase separation method. The obtained composite scaffolds were characterized by X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. UV-Vis measurement and EDX analysis confirmed the presence of cerium ions in the composite scaffolds. Evaluation of the in-vitro biocompatibility using MTT assay showed that composite scaffold containing 1 mol% of ceria presented higher viability than control cells (100%) for concentrations ranging between 5 and 50% after 96 h of incubation.

Novel Strategy for Gallium-Substituted Hydroxyapatite/Pergularia daemia Fiber Extract/Poly(N-vinylcarbazole) Biocomposite Coating on Titanium for Biomedical Applications

The current work mainly focuses on the innovative nature of nano-gallium-substituted hydroxyapatite (nGa-HAp)/Pergularia daemia fiber extract (PDFE)/poly(N-vinylcarbazole) (PVK) biocomposite coating on titanium (Ti) metal in an eco-friendly and low-cost way through electrophoretic deposition for metallic implant applications. Detailed analysis of this nGa-HAp/PDFE/PVK biocomposite coating revealed many encouraging functional properties like structure and uniformity of the coating. Furthermore, gallium and fruit extract of PDFE-incorporated biocomposite enhance the in vitro antimicrobial, cell viability, and bioactivity studies. In addition, the mechanical and anticorrosion tests of the biocomposite material proved improved adhesion, hardness, and corrosion resistance properties, which were found to be attributed to the presence of PDFE and PVK. Also, the swelling and degradation behaviors of the as-developed material were evaluated in simulated body fluids (SBF) solution. The results revealed that the as-developed composite exhibited superior swelling and lower degradation properties, which evidences the stability of composite in the SBF solution. Overall, the results of the present study indicate that these nGa-HAp/PDFE/PVK biocomposite materials with improved mechanical, corrosion resistance, antibacterial, cell viability, and bioactivity properties appear as promising materials for biomedical applications.

Development of a New Ternary Al2O3-HAP-Pd Catalyst for Diethyl Ether and Ethylene Production Using the Preferential Dehydration of Ethanol

This study aims to convert ethanol to higher value-added products, particularly diethyl ether and ethylene using the catalytic dehydration of ethanol. Hence, the gas-phase dehydration of ethanol over Al2O3-HAP catalysts as such and modified by addition of palladium (Pd) in a microreactor was evaluated. The commercial Al2O3-HAP catalyst was first prepared by the physical mixing method, and then, the optimal ratio of the Al2O3-HAP catalyst (2:8 by wt %) was impregnated with Pd to develop a new functional catalyst to alter surface acidity. Based on the results, the combination of Al2O3 and HAP catalysts generated significant quantities of weak acid sites which demonstrates an enhancement in catalytic activity. In addition, Pd modification in the optimal composition ratio of the Al2O3-HAP catalyst extremely increased the amount of weak acid sites as well as weak acid density due to the synergistic effect between the Pd and Al2O3-HAP catalyst that are supposed to suggest the active sites in the reaction. Among all catalysts, the Al20-HAP80-Pd catalyst displayed brilliant catalytic performance in the course of diethyl ether yield (ca. 51.0%) at a reaction temperature of 350 °C and ethylene yield (ca. 75.0%) at a reaction temperature of 400 °C having an outstanding stability under time-on-stream for 10 h. This is recognized to the combination of the effects of weak acid sites (Lewis acidity), small amount of strong acid sites, and structural characteristics of the catalytic materials used.

Surface Properties of Graphene Functionalized TiO2/nHA Hybrid Coatings Made on Ti6Al7Nb Alloys via Plasma Electrolytic Oxidation (PEO)

Nano-hydroxyapatite (nHA)-matrix coatings containing graphene nanosheets (GNS)-nHA were coated on Ti6Al7Nb alloys by plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) treatment for the improvement of their surface properties. Crystallographic properties, functional groups, and elemental analysis of coatings were characterized by XRD, ATR-FTIR, and EDS analysis. Surface morphological changes of the coated surfaces were investigated by AFM and SEM. The electrochemical corrosion behavior of the coatings was examined by using the potentiodynamic scanning (PDS) tests under in-vitro conditions in simulated body fluid (SBF). The results showed that the GNS was successfully deposited in ceramic matrix coatings on Ti6Al7Nb alloys. Also, the microstructural observations revealed that the coatings have a porous and rough structure. The XRD and ATR-FTIR quantitative analysis have proved the appearance of HA and GNS in the coating layers. An increase in the coating thickness, surface hardness, and anatase/rutile transformation rate was determined, while the GNS ratio in the coating layers was increased. The microhardness of the nHA coating reinforced with 1.5 wt% GNS was measured at 862 HV, which was significantly higher than that of GNS-free (only nHA) coating (584 HV). The best in-vitro resistance to corrosion in SBF was observed in the nHA/1.5GNS wt% coating.

Electrodeposited Hydroxyapatite-Based Biocoatings: Recent Progress and Future Challenges

Hydroxyapatite has become an important coating material for bioimplants, following the introduction of synthetic HAp in the 1950s. The HAp coatings require controlled surface roughness/porosity, adequate corrosion resistance and need to show favorable tribological behavior. The deposition rate must be sufficiently fast and the coating technique needs to be applied at different scales on substrates having a diverse structure, composition, size, and shape. A detailed overview of dry and wet coating methods is given. The benefits of electrodeposition include controlled thickness and morphology, ability to coat a wide range of component size/shape and ease of industrial processing. Pulsed current and potential techniques have provided denser and more uniform coatings on different metallic materials/implants. The mechanism of HAp electrodeposition is considered and the effect of operational variables on deposit properties is highlighted. The most recent progress in the field is critically reviewed. Developments in mineral substituted and included particle, composite HAp coatings, including those reinforced by metallic, ceramic and polymeric particles; carbon nanotubes, modified graphenes, chitosan, and heparin, are considered in detail. Technical challenges which deserve further research are identified and a forward look in the field of the electrodeposited HAp coatings is taken.

Development of graphene oxide/calcium phosphate coating by pulse electrodeposition on anodized titanium: Biocorrosion and mechanical behavior

In this work, graphene oxide (GO) reinforcement was used to improve the strength and fracture toughness of the calcium phosphate (CaP) coating applied on the anodized titanium using pulse electrodeposition. Based on the results, the CaP coating consisted of mixed phases of octa-calcium phosphate (OCP), dicalcium phosphate dehydrate (DCPD) and hydroxyapatite (HAp); however, compositing of this coating with GO caused deposition of the pure HAp phase. Moreover, the nanohardness and Young's modulus of the CaP-GO coating increased over 52% and 41%, respectively, as compared to those measured for the GO-free coating. An improvement of about 16% in the adhesion strength of the CaP coating composited with GO to the anodized titanium was also arisen from improving integrity, crystallinity and decreasing the Young's modulus mismatch of this coating with titanium substrate. Finally, uniformity in the microstructure and more biostability of the CaP-GO coating led to its better protection against the corrosion of anodized titanium.

Effect of employing ultrasonic waves during pulse electrochemical deposition on the characteristics and biocompatibility of calcium phosphate coatings

In the present work, we investigated the effect of employing ultrasonic waves during pulse electrochemical deposition on surface topography, chemical composition and biocompatibility of calcium phosphate (Ca-P) coatings. The SEM and 3D AFM images showed that the anodized titanium surface was covered with the uniform and refined size of plate-like Ca-P crystals, when the ultrasonic treatment of the electrolyte with power of 60 W was carried out during deposition. In contrast, for the Ca-P; 0 W coating applied under only the magnetic stirring of the electrolyte, the microstructure was non-uniform and some Ca-P crystals with the larger size were randomly observed in different regions, causing a rougher surface. The FTIR results also revealed that employing the ultrasound increases the deposition of a coating involved in only the most stable Ca-P phase of carbonated hydroxyapatite (CHA). However, in the absence of ultrasound, besides the prominent phase of CHA, some less stable Ca-P phases like octa calcium phosphate (OCP) and brushite were also formed in the Ca-P; 0 W coating. The Ca-P; 60 W coating showed the higher ability for apatite biomineralization after a 7-day immersion in the simulated body fluid (SBF). This coating also provided a better surface for the cellular activity, as compared to the Ca-P; 0 W coating.

Biocompatibility assessment of graphene oxide-hydroxyapatite coating applied on TiO2 nanotubes by ultrasound-assisted pulse electrodeposition

In this study, the ultrasound-assisted pulse electrodeposition was introduced to fabricate the graphene oxide (GO)-hydroxyapatite (HA) coating on TiO₂ nanotubes. The results of the X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscope (FTIR), Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) and micro-Raman spectroscopy showed the successful synthesis of GO. The Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) images revealed that in the presence of ultrasonic waves and GO sheets a more compact HA-based coating with refined microstructure could be formed on the pretreated titanium. The results of micro-Raman analysis confirmed the successful incorporation of the reinforcement filler of GO into the coating electrodeposited by the ultrasound-assisted method. The FTIR analysis showed that the GO-HA coating was consisted predominantly of the B-type carbonated HA (CHA) phase. The pretreatment of the substrate and incorporation of the GO sheets into the HA coating had a significant effect on improving the bonding strength at the coating-substrate interface. Moreover, the results of the fibroblast cell culture and 3‑(4,5‑dimethylthiazolyl‑2)‑2, 5‑diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay after 2 days demonstrated a higher percentage of cell activity for the GO-HA coated sample. Finally, the 7-day exposure to simulated body fluid (SBF) showed a faster rate of apatite precipitation on the GO-HA coating, as compared to the HA coating and pretreated titanium.

Engineering a favourable osteogenic microenvironment by heparin mediated hybrid coating assembly and rhBMP-2 loading

(1) HApNPs are conferred with negative charges by surface modification with heparin. (2) Heparinized HApNPs and polycation CS are assembled to form a hybrid coating. (3) RhBMP-2 is introduced into the coating via the intermolecular binding with heparin.