Synthesis and characterization of fluorine-containing hydroxyapatite by a pH-cycling method

Preparation of a New Biocomposite Designed for Cartilage Grafting with Antibiofilm Activity

New polymer–inorganic composites with antibiofilm features based on the granulated poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE) and apatite materials were obtained using a standard hydraulic press. The study was performed in hydroxy- and fluorapatites doped with different amounts of silver ions and followed by heat treatment at 600 °C. The structural, morphological, and physicochemical properties were determined by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy-energy-dispersive spectrometry (SEM-EDS), and transition electron microscopy (TEM). The antibacterial properties of the obtained materials were evaluated against Gram-negative pathogens such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Escherichia coli as well as against Gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus epidermidis. The cytotoxicity assessment was carried out on the red blood cells (RBC) as a cell model for in vitro study. Moreover, the biofilm formation on the biocomposite surface was studied using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM).

Mechanism of Nanostructured Fluorapatite Formation from CaO, CaF2 and P2O5 Precursors by Mechanochemical Synthesis

We determined the mechanism of mechanochemical synthesis of fluorapatite from CaO, CaF2 and P2O5 by characterisation of the intermediate compounds. We used atomic absorption spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, FTIR spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy to find the transitional compounds. Investigation of the binary and ternary powder mixtures revealed the appearance of H3PO4, Ca(OH)2, Ca2P2O7 and CaCO3 as the intermediate compounds. At early stages of the milling, conversions of P2O5 to H3PO4 and CaO to Ca(OH)2 occurred in the wet atmosphere. Later, a combination of Ca(OH)2 and H3PO4 formed C a2P2O7 while the unreacted CaO was converted to CaCO3 by CO2 of the ambient atmosphere. Spherical crystalline Ca10 (PO4)6F2 particles formed after 48 hours of milling due to the reaction between Ca2P2O7, CaCO3 and CaF2.

Mechanism of Action of TiF4 on Dental Enamel Surface: SEM/EDX, KOH-Soluble F, and X-Ray Diffraction Analysis

This in vitro study aimed to evaluate the action of TiF4 on sound and carious bovine and human enamel. Sound (S) and pre-demineralised (DE) bovine and human (primary and permanent) enamel samples were treated with TiF4 (pH 1.0) or NaF varnishes (pH 5.0), containing 0.95, 1.95, or 2.45% F for 12 h. The enamel surfaces were analysed using SEM-EDX (scanning electron microscopy/energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy) (n = 10, 5 S and 5 DE) and KOH-soluble fluoride was quantified (n = 20, 10 S and 10 DE). Hydroxyapatite powder produced by precipitation method was treated with the corresponding fluoride solutions for 1 min (n = 2). The formed compounds were detected using X-ray diffraction (XRD). All TiF4 varnishes produced a coating layer rich in Ti and F on all types of enamel surface, with micro-cracks in its extension. TiF4 (1.95 and 2.45% F) provided higher fluoride deposition than NaF, especially for bovine enamel (p < 0.0001). It also induced a higher fluoride deposition on DE samples compared to S samples (p < 0.0001), except for primary enamel. The Ti content was higher for bovine and human primary enamel than human permanent enamel, with some differences between S and DE. The XRD analysis showed that TiF4 induced the formation of new compounds such as CaF2, TiO2, and Ti(HPO4)2·H2O. In conclusion, TiF4 (>0.95% F) interacts better, when compared to NaF, with bovine and human primary enamel than with human permanent enamel. TiF4 provoked higher F deposition compared to NaF. Carious enamel showed higher F uptake than sound enamel by TiF4 application, while Ti uptake was dependent on the enamel condition and origin.

Effect of Trimetaphosphate and Fluoride Association on Hydroxyapatite Dissolution and Precipitation In Vitro

The present study analyzed the action of sodium trimetaphosphate (TMP) and/or fluoride on hydroxyapatite. Hydroxyapatite powder was suspended in different solutions: deionized water, 500 µg F/mL, 1,100 µg F/mL, 1%TMP, 3%TMP, 500 µg F/mL plus 1%TMP and 500 µg F/mL plus 3%TMP. The pH value of the solutions was reduced to 4.0 and after 30 min, raised to 7.0 (three times). After pH-cycling, the samples were analyzed by X-ray diffraction and infrared spectroscopy. The concentrations of calcium fluoride, fluoride, calcium and phosphorus were also determined. Adding 1% or 3% TMP to the solution containing 500 µg F/mL produced a higher quantity of calcium fluoride compared to samples prepared in a 1,100 µg F/mL solution. Regarding the calcium concentration, samples prepared in solutions of 1,100 µg F/mL and 500 µg F/mL plus TMP were statistically similar and showed higher values. Using solutions of 1,100 µg F/mL and 500 µg F/mL plus TMP resulted in a calcium/phosphorus ratio close to that of hydroxyapatite. It is concluded that the association of TMP and fluoride favored the precipitation of a more stable hydroxyapatite.

Effect of Sodium Trimetaphosphate on Hydroxyapatite Solubility: An In Vitro Study

This study evaluated the effect of different concentrations of sodium trimetaphosphate (TMP) with and without fluoride (F) on the concentration of calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P) and F in hydroxyapatite (HA). Synthetic HA powder (0.15 g) was suspended (n=6) in solutions (75 mL) of TMP at 0%, 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.4%, 0.6%, 0.8%, 1.0%, 2.0%, 4.0%, 6.0%, 8.0% and 10% concentrations in the presence and absence of 100 ppm F and subjected to a pH-cycling process. The precipitates were filtrated, dried at 70° C for 24 h and ground onto a fine powder. The concentrations of F (KOH (CaF2) and HCl (FA) soluble), Ca (Arsenazo III), and P (molybdate method) in HA were determined. The Ca P, and Ca/P ratio data were subjected to Tukey's test and the F data were subjected to Student-Newman-Keuls test (p<0.05). The addition of TMP to the samples reduced F deposition to 98% (p<0.001). The groups containing 100 ppm F and 0.4% or 0.6% TMP exhibited a higher Ca concentration than the group containing only 100 ppm F (p<0.05). Furthermore, the HA treated with 0.2% and 0.4% TMP and 100 ppm F showed a higher Ca/P ratio than the other groups (p<0.001). In conclusion, TMP at 0.2%, 0.4% and 0.6% concentrations combined with F seemed to be able to precipitate HA with low solubility. However, especially at high concentrations, TMP interferes with F deposition on HA.

On the assessment of hydroxyapatite fluoridation by means of Raman scattering

Hydroxyapatite is the main mineral component of bones and teeth. Fluorapatite, a bioceramic that can be obtained from hydroxyapatite by chemical substitution of the hydroxide ions with fluoride, exhibits lower mineral solubility and larger mechanical strength. Despite the widespread use of fluoride against caries, a reliable technique for unambiguous assessment of fluoridation in in vitro tests is still lacking. Here we present a method to probe fluorapatite formation in fluoridated hydroxyapatite by combining Raman scattering with thermal annealing. In synthetic minerals, we found that effectively fluoride substituted hydroxyapatite transforms into fluorapatite only after heat treatment, due to the high activation energy for this first order phase transition.

Fluoridated hydroxyapatite coatings on titanium obtained by electrochemical deposition

Hydroxyapatite (HA) and fluoridated hydroxyapatite (FHA) coatings were deposited on titanium substrates using an electrochemical technique. Different concentrations of F(-) ions were incorporated into the apatite structure by adding NaF into the electrolyte. Typical apatite structures were obtained for all the coatings after electrodeposition and subsequent post-treatment, including alkaline immersion and vacuum calcination. The coatings were uniform and dense, with a thickness of approximately 5 microm. When the F-concentration was higher than 0.012 M in the electrolyte, a saturation of F in the coating occurred and the F/Ca ratio in the coatings became almost constant (F/Ca ratio=0.125). The FHA coatings showed higher bonding strength and lower dissolution rate than HA coating, particularly for those with a fluoridation level of 0.5-0.625. Compared with pure Ti, FHA and HA coatings exhibited higher biological affinity like cell proliferation and alkaline phosphatase activity. Regarding clinical application, it is suggested that a moderate content of F, such as Ca(5)(PO(4))(3)(OH)(0.375-0.5)F(0.5-0.625), be most suitable as a compromise among cell attachment, cell proliferation, apatite deposition and dissolution resistance.

FT-IR spectroscopy of fluoro-substituted hydroxyapatite: strengths and limitations

Fluoro substituted hydroxyapatite (FHAp) samples were prepared by a cyclic pH method. Both calcined and uncalcined samples were subjected to elemental analysis (F, Ca, P) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis to verify composition and phase purity. Good correlation between a-axis parameters and fluoride ion content was found for calcined samples, however, for uncalcined samples the fluoride ion content was higher than estimated from the a-axis values. Fourier transform infra red (FT-IR) spectroscopy analysis of the calcined samples showed OH band shifts and splitting in accordance with F-HO interactions affecting the OH vibration. We conclude that the OH libration (620-780 cm(-1) range) is more suited for estimation of fluoride ion content than the OH stretching. In contrast, uncalcined samples all displayed FT-IR spectra similar to that of hydroxyapatite (HAp) despite the presence of fluoride ions (18-73%). FT-IR emission spectroscopy was used to probe the changes occurring in the FT-IR spectra of HAp and FHAp samples upon heating. Interpretation of the spectral changes occurring during heating to 1,000 degrees C and subsequent cooling is given. Room temperature spectra of samples heated to various temperatures was used to determine the temperature necessary to produce FT-IR spectra displaying the expected OH bands. A model accounting for the combined observations is proposed.

The effect of fluoride contents in fluoridated hydroxyapatite on osteoblast behavior

Fluoridated hydroxyapatite (FHA) discs with various fluoride contents (0-0.567 mol F(-)/mol) [corrected] have been used to investigate the effect of fluoride content on osteoblastic cell behavior. SAOS-3 rat osteosarcoma cells were cultured on FHA discs for different time periods. The cell behavior was examined in terms of cell attachment, proliferation, morphology and differentiation. The fluoride content in FHA discs strongly affected the cell activities. More cell attachment and proliferation were observed on the fluoride-containing FHA discs than on pure hydroxyapatite (HA). The fluoride content also affected the differentiation behavior of osteoblastic cells. Cells on FHA discs demonstrated a higher alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity than those on pure HA after 2 [corrected] weeks of culturing. These results suggested that fluoride ions have a significant impact on different osteoblastic cell activities.

Incorporation of fluorine ions into hydroxyapatite by a pH cycling method

Fluorine ions were incorporated into hydroxyapatite (HA) using a pH cycling method and the resulting materials were studied using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and electrochemical analysis. TEM observations showed that fluoridated hydroxyapatite (FHA) nanoparticles with a narrow particle size distribution were obtained at several different levels of fluorine incorporation. Significant particle growth was observed following calcining at 1200 degrees C. The TEM data revealed that, instead of forming laminated structures, a mixture of HA and FA was obtained, and that this mixture transformed into a single homogeneous FHA phase upon heating. It was found that the efficiency of fluorine incorporation did not vary significantly with the initial HA particle size, but increased as the fluorine content of the initial solution was increased. A relatively low fluorine incorporation efficiency, approximately 60%, was attained for most of the FHA samples and this was attributed to the short holding time at each pH cycle and the limited number of pH cycles employed in the current study.