Ion-substituted calcium phosphate coatings by physical vapor deposition magnetron sputtering for biomedical applications: A review

Surface engineering of orthopedic implants for better clinical adoption

Musculoskeletal disorders are on the rise, and despite advances in alternative materials, treatment for orthopedic conditions still heavily relies on biometal-based implants and scaffolds due to their strength, durability, and biocompatibility in load-bearing applications. Bare metallic implants have been under scrutiny since their introduction, primarily due to their bioinert nature, which results in poor cell-material interaction. This challenge is further intensified by mechanical mismatches that accelerate failure, tribocorrosion-induced material degradation, and bacterial colonization, all contributing to long-term implant failure and posing a significant burden on patient populations. Recent efforts to improve orthopedic medical devices focus on surface engineering strategies that enhance the interaction between cells and materials, creating a biomimetic microenvironment and extending the service life of these implants. This review compiles various physical, chemical, and biological surface engineering approaches currently under research, providing insights into their potential and the challenges associated with their adoption from bench to bedside. Significant emphasis is placed on exploring the future of bioactive coatings, particularly the development of smart coatings like self-healing and drug-eluting coatings, the immunomodulatory effects of functional coatings and biomimetic surfaces to tackle secondary infections, representing the forefront of biomedical surface engineering. The article provides the reader with an overview of the engineering approaches to surface modification of metallic implants, covering both clinical and research perspectives and discussing limitations and future scope.

Novel Carbohydrate Polymer-Based Systems for Precise Drug Delivery in Colon Cancer: Improving Treatment Effectiveness With Intelligent Biodegradable Materials

Due to their biocompatibility, biodegradability, and controlled release, carbohydrates polymers are crucial to targeted drug delivery systems, notably for colon cancer treatment. This article examines how carbohydrate polymers like chitosan, pectin, guar gum, alginate, hyaluronic acid, dextran, and chondroitin sulfate are used in improved drug delivery. Modifying these polymers improves drug loading, stability, and release patterns, enhancing chemotherapeutic drugs' therapeutic index. Chitosan nanoparticles are pH-responsive, making them perfect for cancer treatment. Pectin's resistance to gastric enzymes and colonic bacteria makes it a promising colon-specific medication delivery agent. The combination of these polymers with nanotechnology, 3D printing, and AI allows the creation of stimuli-responsive systems that release drugs precisely in response to environmental signals like pH, redox potential, or colon enzymatic activity. The review highlights intelligent delivery system design advances that reduce systemic toxicity, improve treatment efficacy, and improve patient adherence. Carbohydrate polymers will revolutionize colon cancer treatment with personalized and accurate alternatives.

Synthetic or Natural (Bio-Based) Hydroxyapatite? A Systematic Comparison between Biomimetic Nanostructured Coatings Produced by Ionized Jet Deposition

Calcium phosphate (CaP)-based materials are largely explored in orthopedics, to increase osseointegration of the prostheses and specifically in spine surgery, to permit better fusion. To address these aims, nanostructured biogenic apatite coatings are emerging, since they better mimic the characteristics of the host tissue, thus potentially being better candidates compared to their synthetic counterpart. Here, we compare hydroxyapatite (HA) nanostructured coatings, obtained by ionized jet deposition, starting from synthetic and natural sources. The starting materials and the corresponding films are characterized and compared from a compositional and morphological point of view, then their stability is studied after post-treatment annealing. Although all the films are formed by globular aggregates and show morphological features at different scales (from nano to micro), significant differences are found in composition between the synthetic and naturally derived HA in terms of magnesium and sodium content, carbonate substitution and Ca/P ratio, while differences between the coatings obtained by the different natural HA sources are minor. In addition, the shape of the aggregates is also target-dependent. All coatings have a good stability after over 14 days of immersion in medium, with natural apatite coatings showing a better behavior, as no cracking and detachments are observed during immersion. Based on these results, both synthetic and naturally derived apatitic materials appear promising for applications in spine surgery, with coatings from natural sources possessing physiochemical properties more similar to the mineral phase of the human bone tissue.

Evaluation of Antibacterial Effect of Hybrid Nano-coating of Stainless Steel Orthodontic Brackets on Streptococcus Mutans - An In vitro Study

Nano-coating of orthodontic brackets with a combination or hybrid of metals and metal oxides may reduce the streptococcus mutans count and incidence of enamel decalcification seen around brackets in patients undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment. In total, 255 orthodontic brackets (3M Unitek, Monrovia, California, USA) were divided into one control group (group I) of 60 and three experimental groups of 65 each (groups II, III, and IV). The experimental group brackets were coated with a combination of silver-zinc oxide, copper oxide -zinc oxide, and silver-copper oxide nanoparticles using physical vapour deposition method. The two nanoparticles used for each group were mixed in the ratio of 1:1 by weight for providing a uniform hybrid coating. Sixty brackets from each group were used for microbiological evaluation of antibacterial activity against Streptococcus mutans in blood agar medium, and the remaining five brackets from each experimental group were used for SEM analysis to check the uniformity of the coating. Nano-coated brackets demonstrated better antibacterial properties than uncoated brackets. Copper oxide-zinc oxide nanoparticles coated brackets demonstrated better antibacterial properties than the silver-zinc oxide and silver- copper oxide coated brackets.

Surface-modified titanium and titanium-based alloys for improved osteogenesis: A critical review

As implantable materials, titanium, and its alloys have garnered enormous interest from researchers for dental and orthopedic procedures. Despite their success in wide clinical applications, titanium, and its alloys fail to stimulate osteogenesis, resulting in poor bonding strength with surrounding bone tissue. Optimizing the surface topology and altered compositions of titanium and titanium-based alloys substantially promotes peri-implant bone regeneration. This review summarizes the utilization and importance of various osteogenesis components loaded onto titanium and its alloys. Further, different surface-modification methods and the release efficacy of loaded substances are emphasized. Finally, we summarize the article with prospects. We believe that further investigation studies must focus on identifying novel loading components, exploring various innovative, optimized surface-modification methods, and developing a sustained-release system on implant surfaces to improve peri-implant bone formation.

Biomimetic Coatings in Implant Dentistry: A Quick Update

Biomimetic dental implants are regarded as one of the recent clinical advancements in implant surface modification. Coatings with varying thicknesses and roughness may affect the dental implant surface's chemical inertness, cell adhesion, and antibacterial characteristics. Different surface coatings and mechanical surface changes have been studied to improve osseointegration and decrease peri-implantitis. The surface medication increases surface energy, leading to enhanced cell proliferation and growth factors, and, consequently, to a rise in the osseointegration process. This review provides a comprehensive update on the numerous biomimetic coatings used to improve the surface characteristics of dental implants and their applications in two main categories: coating to improve osseointegration, including the hydroxyapatite layer and nanocomposites, growth factors (BMPs, PDGF, FGF), and extracellular matrix (collagen, elastin, fibronectin, chondroitin sulfate, hyaluronan, and other proteoglycans), and coatings for anti-bacterial performance, covering drug-coated dental implants (antibiotic, statin, and bisphosphonate), antimicrobial peptide coating (GL13K and human beta defensins), polysaccharide antibacterial coatings (natural chitosan and its coupling agents) and metal elements (silver, zinc, and copper).

There Are over 60 Ways to Produce Biocompatible Calcium Orthophosphate (CaPO4) Deposits on Various Substrates

A The present overview describes various production techniques for biocompatible calcium orthophosphate (abbreviated as CaPO4) deposits (coatings, films and layers) on the surfaces of various types of substrates to impart the biocompatible properties for artificial bone grafts. Since, after being implanted, the grafts always interact with the surrounding biological tissues at the interfaces, their surface properties are considered critical to clinical success. Due to the limited number of materials that can be tolerated in vivo, a new specialty of surface engineering has been developed to desirably modify any unacceptable material surface characteristics while maintaining the useful bulk performance. In 1975, the development of this approach led to the emergence of a special class of artificial bone grafts, in which various mechanically stable (and thus suitable for load-bearing applications) implantable biomaterials and artificial devices were coated with CaPO4. Since then, more than 7500 papers have been published on this subject and more than 500 new publications are added annually. In this review, a comprehensive analysis of the available literature has been performed with the main goal of finding as many deposition techniques as possible and more than 60 methods (double that if all known modifications are counted) for producing CaPO4 deposits on various substrates have been systematically described. Thus, besides the introduction, general knowledge and terminology, this review consists of two unequal parts. The first (bigger) part is a comprehensive summary of the known CaPO4 deposition techniques both currently used and discontinued/underdeveloped ones with brief descriptions of their major physical and chemical principles coupled with the key process parameters (when possible) to inform readers of their existence and remind them of the unused ones. The second (smaller) part includes fleeting essays on the most important properties and current biomedical applications of the CaPO4 deposits with an indication of possible future developments.

Clindamycin-Loaded Nanosized Calcium Phosphates Powders as a Carrier of Active Substances

Bioactive calcium phosphate ceramics (CaPs) are one of the building components of the inorganic part of bones. Synthetic CaPs are frequently used as materials for filling bone defects in the form of pastes or composites; however, their porous structure allows modification with active substances and, thus, subsequent use as a drug carrier for the controlled release of active substances. In this study, four different ceramic powders were compared: commercial hydroxyapatite (HA), TCP, brushite, as well as HA obtained by wet precipitation methods. The ceramic powders were subjected to physicochemical analysis, including FTIR, XRD, and determination of Ca/P molar ratio or porosity. These techniques confirmed that the materials were phase-pure, and the molar ratios of calcium and phosphorus elements were in accordance with the literature. This confirmed the validity of the selected synthesis methods. CaPs were then modified with the antibiotic clindamycin. Drug release was determined on HPLC, and antimicrobial properties were tested against Staphylococcus aureus. The specific surface area of the ceramic has been demonstrated to be a factor in drug release efficiency.

A novel peptide isolated from Catla skin collagen acts as a self-assembling scaffold promoting nucleation of calcium-deficient hydroxyapatite nanocrystals

Catla collagen hydrolysate (CH) was fractionated by chromatography and each fraction was subjected to HA nucleation, with the resultant HA-fraction composites being scored based on the structural and functional group of the HA formed. The process was repeated till a single peptide with augmented HA nucleation capacity was obtained. The peptide (4.6 kDa), exhibited high solubility, existed in polyproline-II conformation and displayed a dynamic yet stable hierarchical self-assembling property. The 3D modelling of the peptide revealed multiple calcium and phosphate binding sites and a high propensity to self-assemble. Structural analysis of the peptide-HA crystals revealed characteristic diffraction planes of HA with mineralization following the (002) plane, retention of the self-assembled hierarchy of the peptide and intense ionic interactions between carboxyl groups and calcium. The peptide-HA composite crystals were mostly of 25-40 nm dimensions and displayed 79% mineralization, 92% crystallinity, 39.25% porosity, 12GPa Young's modulus and enhanced stability in physiological pH. Cells grown on peptide-HA depicted faster proliferation rates and higher levels of osteogenic markers. It was concluded that the prerequisite for HA nucleation by a peptide included: a conserved sequence with a unique charge topology allowing calcium chelation and its ability to form a dynamic self-assembled hierarchy for crystal propagation.

In vivo osseointegration evaluation of implants coated with nanostructured hydroxyapatite in low density bone

OBJECTIVE

This in vivo study, aimed to biomechanically, histomorphometrically and histologically evaluate an implant surface coated with nanostructured hydroxyapatite using the wet chemical process (biomimetic deposition of calcium phosphate coating) when compared to a dual acid-etching surface.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Ten sheep (2-4 years old) received 20 implants, 10 with nanostructured hydroxyapatite coating (HAnano), and 10 with dual acid-etching surface (DAA). The surfaces were characterized with scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy; insertion torque values and resonance frequency analysis were measured to evaluate the primary stability of the implants. Bone-implant contact (BIC) and bone area fraction occupancy (BAFo) were evaluated 14 and 28 days after implant installation.

RESULTS

The HAnano and DAA groups showed no significant difference in insertion torque and resonance frequency analysis. The BIC and BAFo values increased significantly (p<0.05) over the experimental periods in both groups. This event was also observed in BIC value of HAnano group. The HAnano surface showed superior results compared to DAA after 28 days (BAFo, p = 0.007; BIC, p = 0.01).

CONCLUSION

The results suggest that the HAnano surface favors bone formation when compared to the DAA surface after 28 days in low-density bone in sheep.

Biomimetic Mineralized Fiber Bundle-Inspired Scaffolding Surface on Polyetheretherketone Implants Promotes Osseointegration

The stress shielding effect caused by traditional metal implants is circumvented by using polyetheretherketone (PEEK), due to its excellent mechanical properties; however, the biologically inert nature of PEEK limits its application. Endowing PEEK with biological activity to promote osseointegration would increase its applicability for bone replacement implants. A biomimetic study is performed, inspired by mineralized collagen fiber bundles that contact bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) on the native trabecular bone surface. The PEEK surface (P) is first sulfonated with sulfuric acid to form a porous network structure (sP). The surface is then encapsulated with amorphous hydroxyapatite (HA) by magnetron sputtering to form a biomimetic scaffold that resembles mineralized collagen fiber bundles (sPHA). Amorphous HA simulates the composition of osteogenic regions in vivo and exhibits strong biological activity. In vitro results show that more favorable cell adhesion and osteogenic differentiation can be attained with the novelsurface of sPHA than with SP. The results of in vivo experiments show that sPHA exhibits osteoinductive and osteoconductive activity and facilitates bone formation and osseointegration. Therefore, the surface modification strategy can significantly improve the biological activity of PEEK, facilitate effective osseointegration, and inspire further bionic modification of other inert polymers similar to PEEK.

Progress in bioactive surface coatings on biodegradable Mg alloys: A critical review towards clinical translation

Mg and its alloys evince strong candidature for biodegradable bone implants, cardiovascular stents, and wound closing devices. However, their rapid degradation rate causes premature implant failure, constraining clinical applications. Bio-functional surface coatings have emerged as the most competent strategy to fulfill the diverse clinical requirements, besides yielding effective corrosion resistance. This article reviews the progress of biodegradable and advanced surface coatings on Mg alloys investigated in recent years, aiming to build up a comprehensive knowledge framework of coating techniques, processing parameters, performance measures in terms of corrosion resistance, adhesion strength, and biocompatibility. Recently developed conversion and deposition type surface coatings are thoroughly discussed by reporting their essential therapeutic responses like osteogenesis, angiogenesis, cytocompatibility, hemocompatibility, anti-bacterial, and controlled drug release towards in-vitro and in-vivo study models. The challenges associated with metallic, ceramic and polymeric coatings along with merits and demerits of various coatings have been illustrated. The use of multilayered hybrid coating comprising a unique combination of organic and inorganic components has been emphasized with future perspectives to obtain diverse bio-functionalities in a facile single coating system for orthopedic implant applications.

RF Magnetron Sputtering of Substituted Hydroxyapatite for Deposition of Biocoatings

Functionalization of titanium (Ti)-based alloy implant surfaces by deposition of calcium phosphates (CaP) has been widely recognized. Substituted hydroxyapatites (HA) allow the coating properties to be tailored based on the use of different Ca substitutes. The formation of antibacterial CaP coatings with the incorporation of Zn or Cu by an RF magnetron sputtering is proposed. The influence of RF magnetron targets elemental composition and structure in the case of Zn-HA and Cu-HA, and the influence of substrate's grain size, the substrate's temperature during the deposition, and post-deposition heat treatment (HT) on the resulting coatings are represented. Sintering the targets at 1150 °C resulted in a noticeable structural change with an increase in cell volume and lattice parameters for substituted HA. The deposition rate of Cu-HA and Zn-HA was notably higher compared to stochiometric HA (10.5 and 10) nm/min vs. 9 ± 0.5 nm/min, respectively. At the substrate temperature below 100 °C, all deposited coatings were found to be amorphous with an atomic short-range order corresponding to the {300} plane of crystalline HA. All deposited coatings were found to be hyper-stochiometric with Ca/P ratios varying from 1.9 to 2.5. An increase in the substrate temperature to 200 °C resulted in the formation of equiaxed grain structure on both coarse-grained (CG) and nanostructured (NS) Ti. The use of NS Ti notably increased the scratch resistance of the deposited coatings from18 ± 1 N to 22 ± 2 N. Influence of HT in air or Ar atmosphere is also discussed. Thus, the deposition of Zn- or Cu-containing CaP is a complex process that could be fine-tuned using the obtained research results.

Crystalline Biomimetic Calcium Phosphate Coating on Mini-Pin Implants to Accelerate Osseointegration and Extend Drug Release Duration for an Orthodontic Application

Miniscrew implants (MSIs) have been widely used as temporary anchorage devices in orthodontic clinics. However, one of their major limitations is the relatively high failure rate. We hypothesize that a biomimetic calcium phosphate (BioCaP) coating layer on mini-pin implants might be able to accelerate the osseointegration, and can be a carrier for biological agents. A novel mini-pin implant to mimic the MSIs was used. BioCaP (amorphous or crystalline) coatings with or without the presence of bovine serum albumin (BSA) were applied on such implants and inserted in the metaphyseal tibia in rats. The percentage of bone to implant contact (BIC) in histomorphometric analysis was used to evaluate the osteoconductivity of such implants from six different groups (n=6 rats per group): (1) no coating no BSA group, (2) no coating BSA adsorption group, (3) amorphous BioCaP coating group, (4) amorphous BioCaP coating-incorporated BSA group, (5) crystalline BioCaP coating group, and (6) crystalline BioCaP coating-incorporated BSA group. Samples were retrieved 3 days, 1 week, 2 weeks, and 4 weeks post-surgery. The results showed that the crystalline BioCaP coating served as a drug carrier with a sustained release profile. Furthermore, the significant increase in BIC occurred at week 1 in the crystalline coating group, but at week 2 or week 4 in other groups. These findings indicate that the crystalline BioCaP coating can be a promising surface modification to facilitate early osseointegration and increase the success rate of miniscrew implants in orthodontic clinics.

Investigation of the Nature of the Interaction of Me-MeN-(Me,Mo,Al)N Coatings (Where Me = Zr, Ti, or Cr) with a Contact Medium Based on the Ni-Cr System

This paper discusses the results of a study focused on the nature of the interaction of Me-MeN-(Me,Mo,Al)N coatings (where Me = zirconium (Zr), titanium (Ti), or chromium (Cr)) with a contact medium based on the Ni-Cr system. The studies were carried out during the turning of nickel–chromium alloy at different cutting speeds. The hardness of the coatings was found, and their nanostructure and phase composition were studied. The experiments were conducted using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and selected area electron diffraction (SAED). According to the studies, at elevated cutting speeds, the highest wear resistance is demonstrated by the tools with the ZrN-based coating, while at lower cutting speeds, the tools with the TiN- and CrN-based coatings had higher wear resistance. At elevated cutting speeds, the experiments detected the active formation of oxides in the ZrN-based coating and less active formation of oxides in the CrN-based coating. No formation of oxides was detected in the TiN-based coating. The patterns of cracking in the coatings were also studied.

The antibacterial effect of silver, zinc-oxide and combination of silver/ zinc oxide nanoparticles coating of orthodontic brackets (an in vitro study)

Background

Preventive measures are essential during the length of orthodontic treatment to reduce the risk of decalcification and white spot lesions formation. With the evolution of procedures that enable coating of the orthodontic brackets using nanoparticles known for their good antibacterial activity, coating the brackets with nanoparticles of silver, zinc oxide and combination of silver and zinc oxide to evaluate their antibacterial effect in comparison to a control group without coating was carried out in this study.

Methods

Four groups of 12 brackets each were included in the study. The coating procedure was carried out using physical vapor deposition. The antibacterial activity was tested on Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus Acidophilus using colony forming count. The antibacterial activity was evaluated immediately after coating and later after 3 months.

Results

Brackets coated with combination of silver and zinc oxide nanoparticles had the highest ability on reduction of both Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus Acidophilus count followed by silver nanoparticles and then zinc oxide nanoparticles. No significant difference was found between the first and second antibacterial tests.

Conclusion

The silver/zinc oxide nanoparticles coated brackets had the highest antibacterial effect in comparison to silver nanoparticles and zinc oxide nanoparticles individually coated brackets on Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus acidophilus, and all types of coatings showed enhanced antibacterial effect in comparison to the uncoated bracket. Coating of orthodontic brackets could be further assessed in clinical application to prevent decalcification.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12903-022-02263-6.

Study of Al–SiO2 Aesthetic Composite Coating on Orthodontic Metal Archwire

Nickel–titanium orthodontic wires (NTWs) play an essential role in orthodontic treatment. However, their corrosion and aesthetic properties limit their applications. To improve the aesthetic effects of nickel–titanium orthodontic archwires, we prepared aluminium–silicon dioxide (Al–SiO2) as a biocompatible layer coated onto the NTWs. The Al–SiO2 coating was first fabricated using physical vapor deposition magnetron sputtering, and its physicochemical and biocompatibility properties were investigated. Al–SiO2 layers were well coated on the NTWs. The corrosion currents in the nickel–titanium (NiTi) control, Al–SiO2-coated NiTi experimental, stainless steel (SS) control and Al–SiO2-coated SS experimental groups were 23.72 μA cm−2, 1.21 μA cm−2, 0.22 μA cm−2 and 0.06 μA cm−2, respectively. Al–SiO2-coated NTWs with reduced corrosion current density indicated that the preparation of Al–SiO2 coating on the surface of NiTi and SS could reduce the tendency of electrochemical corrosion. The friction coefficients of orthodontic wires in the NiTi control, NiTi experimental, SS control, and SS experimental groups were 0.68, 0.46, 0.58 and 0.45, respectively. A low friction coefficient was observed in the Al–SiO2-coated NTWs, and the reduced friction coefficient improved the efficiency of orthodontics. Furthermore, the excellent biocompatibility of the NTWs and SS coated with Al–SiO2 indicates that Al–SiO2 as a novel aesthetic layer could improve the physicochemical properties of NTW and SS without causing cytotoxicity, which has considerable potential for modification of NTW and SS surfaces.

Modification of polyether ether ketone for the repairing of bone defects

Bone damage as a consequence of disease or trauma is a common global occurrence. For bone damage treatment - bone implant materials are necessary across three classifications of surgical intervention (i.e. fixation, repair, and replacement). Many types of bone implant materials have been developed to meet the requirements of bone repair. Among them, polyether ether ketone (PEEK) has been considered as one of the next generation of bone implant materials, owing to its advantages related to good biocompatibility, chemical stability, X-ray permeability, elastic modulus comparable to natural bone, as well as the ease of processing and modification. However, as PEEK is a naturally bioinert material, some modification is needed to improve its integration with adjacent bones after implantation. Therefore, it has become a very hot topic of biomaterials research and various strategies for the modification of PEEK including blending, 3D printing, coating, chemical modification and the introduction of bioactive and/or antibacterial substances have been proposed. In this systematic review, the recent advances in modification of PEEK and its application prospect as bone implants are summarized, and the remaining challenges are also discussed.

Bioinspired TiO2/Chitosan/HA Coatings on Ti Surfaces: Biomedical Improvement by Intermediate Hierarchical Films

The most common reasons for hard-tissue implant failure are structural loosening and prosthetic infections. Hence, to fix the first problem, different bioinspired coatings were applied to the titanium alloy surfaces in this study, including dual acid-etched, anodic TiO2 nanotubes array (TNTs), anodic hierarchical titanium oxide, micro- and nanostructured hydroxyapatite (HA) layers, and HA/chitosan (HA/CS) nanocomposite coating. XRD and FTIR analysis demonstrated that the in situ HA/chitosan nanocomposite formed successfully. The MTT assay showed that all samples had excellent cell viability, with cell proliferation rates ranging from 120-150% after 10 days. The hierarchical coating demonstrated superhydrophilicity (θ ≈ 0°) and increased the wettability of the metallic Ti surface by more than 120%. The friction coefficient of all fabricated surfaces was within the range of natural bone's mechanical behavior. The intermediate hierarchical oxide layer increased the adhesion strength of the HA/chitosan coating by more than 60%. The Hierarchical middle oxide layer caused the mechanical stability of HA/CS during the 1000 m of friction test. The microhardness of HA/CS (22.5 HV) and micro-HA (25.5 HV) coatings was comparable to that of human bone. An intermediate hierarchical oxide-based mechanism for improving adhesion strength in HA/CS coatings was presented.

Influence of Thin Film Deposition on AFM Cantilever Tips in Adhesion and Young’s Modulus of MEMS Surfaces

Adhesion is a critical factor in microelectromechanical systems (MEMSs) and is influenced by many parameters. In important fields, such as microassembly, an improved understanding of adhesion can result in higher precision. This study examines the influence of deposition of gold and titanium onto the atomic force microscope (AFM) tips in adhesion forces and Young’s modulus, between a few MEMS substrates (silicon, gold, and silver) and the AFM tips. It was found that, except for gold substrate, an AFM tip coated with gold has the highest adhesion force of 42.67 nN for silicon substrates, whereas the titanium-coated AFM tip decreases the force for all the samples. This study suggests that such changes must be taken into account while studying the adhesion force. The final results indicate that utilizing gold substrate with titanium AFM tip led to the lowest adhesion force, which could be useful in adhesion force measurement during microassembly.

Simultaneous Precipitation and Electrodeposition of Hydroxyapatite Coatings at Different Temperatures on Various Metal Substrates

The coating of orthopedic and dental implants with hydroxyapatite (HA) is recognized as a method to increase their integration ability. A new metal coating method, comprising simultaneous precipitation and electrodeposition, is presented. Two studies are described: the first is related to the influence of time/temperature increase on the morpho-structural characteristics of the deposited layer on the Ti substrate, while the second study presents the characteristics of the layers deposited on different metal substrates. For comparison, specimens were obtained using the classical electrochemical deposition under the same experimental conditions. The addition of Ca to the electrolyte creates more compact and more uniform coatings, while the addition of P creates more porous layers. Only a very small quantity of crystalline HA deposited on the C55, Cu, and Ni substrates when the classic electrodeposition method was employed, while using the new approach has clearly led to a larger crystalline HA amount electrodeposited on the same types of metals. With some exceptions, the advantages of using the new method are: better crystallinity, more uniform and continuous surface, higher roughness, and potentially higher anti-corrosion capabilities.

Coatings Functionalization via Laser versus Other Deposition Techniques for Medical Applications: A Comparative Review

The development of new biological devices in response to market demands requires continuous efforts for the improvement of products’ functionalization based upon expansion of the materials used and their fabrication techniques. One viable solution consists of a functionalization substrate covered by layers via an appropriate deposition technique. Laser techniques ensure an enhanced coating’s adherence to the substrate and improved biological characteristics, not compromising the mechanical properties of the functionalized medical device. This is a review of the main laser techniques involved. We mainly refer to pulse laser deposition, matrix-assisted, and laser simple and double writing versus some other well-known deposition methods as magnetron sputtering, 3D bioprinting, inkjet printing, extrusion, solenoid, fuse-deposition modeling, plasma spray (PS), and dip coating. All these techniques can be extended to functionalize surface fabrication to change local morphology, chemistry, and crystal structure, which affect the biomaterial behavior following the chosen application. Surface functionalization laser techniques are strictly controlled within a confined area to deliver a large amount of energy concisely. The laser deposit performances are presented compared to reported data obtained by other techniques.

Low-Dimensional In2Se3 Compounds: From Material Preparations to Device Applications

Nanostructured In₂Se₃ compounds have been widely used in electronics, optoelectronics, and thermoelectrics. Recently, the revelation of ferroelectricity in low-dimensional (low-D) In₂Se₃ has caused a new upsurge of scientific interest in nanostructured In₂Se₃ and advanced functional devices. The ferroelectric, thermoelectric, and optoelectronic properties of In₂Se₃ are highly correlated with the crystal structure. In this review, we summarize the crystal structures and electronic band structures of the widely interested members of the In₂Se₃ compound family. Recent achievements in the preparation of low-D In₂Se₃ with controlled phases are discussed in detail. General principles for obtaining pure-phased In₂Se₃ nanostructures are described. The excellent ferroelectric, optoelectronic, and thermoelectric properties having been demonstrated using nanostructured and heterostructured In₂Se₃ with different phases are also summarized. Progress and challenges on the applications of In₂Se₃ nanostructures in nonvolatile memories, photodetectors, gas sensors, strain sensors, and photovoltaics are discussed in detail. In the last part of this review, perspectives on the challenges and opportunities in the preparation and applications of In₂Se₃ materials are presented.

Biomedical Alloys and Physical Surface Modifications: A Mini-Review

Biomedical alloys are essential parts of modern biomedical applications. However, they cannot satisfy the increasing requirements for large-scale production owing to the degradation of metals. Physical surface modification could be an effective way to enhance their biofunctionality. The main goal of this review is to emphasize the importance of the physical surface modification of biomedical alloys. In this review, we compare the properties of several common biomedical alloys, including stainless steel, Co-Cr, and Ti alloys. Then, we introduce the principle and applications of some popular physical surface modifications, such as thermal spraying, glow discharge plasma, ion implantation, ultrasonic nanocrystal surface modification, and physical vapor deposition. The importance of physical surface modifications in improving the biofunctionality of biomedical alloys is revealed. Future studies could focus on the development of novel coating materials and the integration of various approaches.

Fabrication of Antibacterial Metal Surfaces Using Magnetron-Sputtering Method

One-hundred-nanometer films consisting of silver, copper, and gold nanocrystallites were prepared, and their antibacterial properties were quantitatively measured. The magnetron-sputtering method was used for the preparation of the metallic films over the glass plate. Single- and double-layer films were manufactured. The films were thoroughly characterized with the XRD, SEM, EDS, and XPS methods. The antibacterial activity of the samples was investigated. Gram-negative Escherichia coli, strain K12 ATCC 25922 (E. coli), and Gram-positive Staphylococcus epidermidis, ATCC 49461 (S. epidermidis), were used in the microbial tests. The crystallite size was about 30 nm in the cases of silver and gold and a few nanometers in the case of copper. Significant oxidation of the copper films was proven. The antibacterial efficacy of the tested samples followed the order: Ag/Cu > Au/Cu > Cu. It was concluded that such metallic surfaces may be applied as contact-killing materials for a more effective fight against bacteria and viruses.

The Physico-Chemical Properties and Exploratory Real-Time Cell Analysis of Hydroxyapatite Nanopowders Substituted with Ce, Mg, Sr, and Zn (0.5-5 at.%)

Cation-substituted hydroxyapatite (HA), standalone or as a composite (blended with polymers or metals), is currently regarded as a noteworthy candidate material for bone repair/regeneration either in the form of powders, porous scaffolds or coatings for endo-osseous dental and orthopaedic implants. As a response to the numerous contradictions reported in literature, this work presents, in one study, the physico-chemical properties and the cytocompatibility response of single cation-doped (Ce, Mg, Sr or Zn) HA nanopowders in a wide concentration range (0.5–5 at.%). The modification of composition, morphology, and structure was multiparametrically monitored via energy dispersive X-ray, X-ray photoelectron, Fourier-transform infrared and micro-Raman spectroscopy methods, as well as by transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. From a compositional point of view, Ce and Sr were well-incorporated in HA, while slight and pronounced deviations were observed for Mg and Zn, respectively. The change of the lattice parameters, crystallite size, and substituting cation occupation factors either in the Ca(I) or Ca(II) sites were further determined. Sr produced the most important HA structural changes. The in vitro biological performance was evaluated by the (i) determination of leached therapeutic cations (by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry) and (ii) assessment of cell behaviour by both conventional assays (e.g., proliferation—3-(4,5-dimethyl thiazol-2-yl) 5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium assay; cytotoxicity—lactate dehydrogenase release assay) and, for the first time, real-time cell analysis (RTCA). Three cell lines were employed: fibroblast, osteoblast, and endothelial. When monophasic, the substituted HA supported the cells’ viability and proliferation without signs of toxicity. The RTCA results indicate the excellent adherence of cells. The study strived to offer a perspective on the behaviour of Ce-, Mg-, Sr-, or Zn-substituted HAs and to deliver a well-encompassing viewpoint on their effects. This can be highly important for the future development of such bioceramics, paving the road toward the identification of candidates with highly promising therapeutic effects.

Zn-Doped CaP-Based Coatings on Ti–6Al–4V and Ti–6Al–7Nb Alloys Prepared by Magnetron Sputtering: Controllable Biodegradation, Bacteriostatic, and Osteogenic Activities

New TiNb-based alloys, such as Ti–6Al–7Nb, are currently being studied around the world as an alternative to other Ti alloys, e.g., instead of Ti–6Al–4V. We conducted a pilot study where thin (approximately 1.2 micron) CaP coatings containing low doses of Zn2+ (0.4–0.8 wt.%) were prepared by the radio frequency magnetron sputtering (RFMS) of Zn-hydroxyapatite (HA) target on Ti–6Al–4V and Ti–6Al–7Nb substrates and investigated their physicochemical properties, in vitro solubility, cytotoxicity, and antibacterial and osteogenic activities. The thickness of the obtained coatings was approximately 1.2–1.3 microns. Zn substitution did not result in roughness or structural or surface changes in the amorphous CaP coatings. The distributions of Ca, P, and Zn were homogeneous across the film thickness as shown by the EDX mapping of these elements. Zn doping of CaP coatings on both types of Ti-based alloys statistically influenced the results of the scratch-test. However, obtained values are satisfactory to use Zn-CaP coatings on biomedical implants. Increased Zn2+ release vs. tapered output of Ca and phosphate ions occurred during 5 weeks of an in vitro immersion test in 0.9% NaCl solution. Ti–6Al–7Nb alloy, unlike Ti–6Al–4V, promoted more linear biodegradation of CaP coatings in vitro. As a result, CaP-based surfaces on Ti–6Al–7Nb, compared with on Ti–6Al–4V alloy, augmented the total areas of Alizarin red staining in a 21-day culture of human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells in a statistically significant manner. Moreover, Zn–CaP coatings statistically reduced leukemic Jurkat T cell survival within 48 h of in vitro culture. Along with the higher solubility of the Zn–CaP surface, a greater reduction (4- to 5.5-fold) in Staphylococcus aureus growth was observed in vitro when 7-day extracts of the coatings were added into the microbial culture. Hence, Zn–CaP-coated Ti–6Al–7Nb alloy with controllable biodegradation as prepared by RFMS is a prospective material suitable for bone applications in cases where there is a risk of bacterial contamination with severe consequences, for example, in leukemic patients. Further research is needed to closely investigate the mechanical features and pathways of their solubility and antimicrobial, antitumor, and osteogenic activities.

Recent Developments in Coatings for Orthopedic Metallic Implants

Titanium, stainless steel, and CoCrMo alloys are the most widely used biomaterials for orthopedic applications. The most common causes of orthopedic implant failure after implantation are infections, inflammatory response, least corrosion resistance, mismatch in elastic modulus, stress shielding, and excessive wear. To address the problems associated with implant materials, different modifications related to design, materials, and surface have been developed. Among the different methods, coating is an effective method to improve the performance of implant materials. In this article, a comprehensive review of recent studies has been carried out to summarize the impact of coating materials on metallic implants. The antibacterial characteristics, biodegradability, biocompatibility, corrosion behavior, and mechanical properties for performance evaluation are briefly summarized. Different effective coating techniques, coating materials, and additives have been summarized. The results are useful to produce the coating with optimized properties.

Surface Characterization and Biocompatibility of Hydroxyapatite Coating on Anodized TiO2 Nanotubes via PVD Magnetron Sputtering

Hydroxyapatite (HA) coating has received significant attention in the scientific community for the development of implants, and HA coating on titanium oxide (TiO₂) nanotubes has shown potential benefits in the improvement of cell proliferation, adhesion, and differentiation. In this study, a HA coating on a TiO₂ nanotubular surface was developed to improve the biocompatibility of the titanium (Ti) surface via magnetron sputtering. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), surface profilometry, and water contact goniometry revealed that HA-coated TiO₂ nanotubes influenced the surface roughness (R_a) and hydrophilicity. The XRD and FTIR peaks indicated the presence of crystalline phases of TiO₂ (anatase) and HA-coated TiO₂ nanotubes after annealing at 500 °C for 120 min. The HA-coated TiO₂ nanotubes showed significantly increased R_a and decreased water contact angle (θ) compared to the as-anodized TiO₂ nanotubular and bare CP-Ti surfaces. MTS assay using osteoblast-like cells confirmed that the HA-coated TiO₂ nanotubular surface provided an enhanced cell attachment and growth when compared to as-anodized TiO₂ nanotubular and pure CP-Ti surfaces.

Surface engineering of biomaterials in orthopedic and dental implants: Strategies to improve osteointegration, bacteriostatic and bactericidal activities

BACKGROUND

The success of biomedical implants in orthopedic and dental applications is usually limited due to insufficient bone-implant integration, and implant-related infections. Biointerfaces are critical in regulating their interactions and the desirable performance of biomaterials in biological environment. Surface engineering has been widely studied to realize better control of the interface interaction to further enhance the desired behavior of biomaterials.

PURPOSE AND SCOPE

This review aims to investigate surface coating strategies in hard tissue applications to address insufficient osteointegration and implant-related infection problems.

SUMMARY

We first focused on surface coatings to enhance the osteointegration and biocompatibility of implants by emphasizing calcium phosphate-related, nanoscale TiO₂ -related, bioactive tantalum-based and biomolecules incorporated coatings. Different coating strategies such as plasma spraying, biomimetic deposition, electrochemical anodization and LENS are discussed. We then discussed techniques to construct anti-adhesive and bactericidal surface while emphasizing multifunctional surface coating techniques that combine potential osteointegration and antibacterial activities. The effects of nanotopography via TiO₂ coatings on antibacterial performance are interesting and included. A smart bacteria-responsive titanium dioxide nanotubes coating is also attractive and elaborated.

CONCLUSION

Developing multifunctional surface coatings combining osteogenesis and antimicrobial activity is the current trend. Surface engineering methods are usually combined to obtain hierarchical multiscale surface structures with better biofunctionalization outcomes.

The Influence of Nanometals, Dispersed in the Electrophoretic Nanohydroxyapatite Coatings on the Ti13Zr13Nb Alloy, on Their Morphology and Mechanical Properties

In this work, nanohydroxyapatite coatings with nanosilver and nanocopper have been fabricated and studied. The presented results concern coatings with a chemical composition that has never been proposed before. The present research aims to characterize the effects of nanosilver and nanocopper, dispersed in nanohydroxyapatite coatings and deposited on a new, non-toxic Ti13Zr13Nb alloy, on the physical and mechanical properties of coatings. The coatings were obtained by a one-stage electrophoretic process. The surface topography, and the chemical and phase compositions of coatings were examined with scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, X-ray diffractometry, glow discharge optical emission spectroscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The mechanical properties of coatings were determined by nanoindentation tests, while coatings adhesion was determined by nanoscratch tests. The results demonstrate that copper addition increases the hardness and adhesion. The presence of nanosilver has no significant influence on the adhesion of coatings.

Functional Gradient Metallic Biomaterials: Techniques, Current Scenery, and Future Prospects in the Biomedical Field

Functional gradient materials (FGMs), as a modern group of materials, can provide multiple functions and are able to well mimic the hierarchical and gradient structure of natural systems. Because biomedical implants usually substitute the bone tissues and bone is an organic, natural FGM material, it seems quite reasonable to use the FGM concept in these applications. These FGMs have numerous advantages, including the ability to tailor the desired mechanical and biological response by producing various gradations, such as composition, porosity, and size; mitigating some limitations, such as stress-shielding effects; improving osseointegration; and enhancing electrochemical behavior and wear resistance. Although these are beneficial aspects, there is still a notable lack of comprehensive guidelines and standards. This paper aims to comprehensively review the current scenery of FGM metallic materials in the biomedical field, specifically its dental and orthopedic applications. It also introduces various processing methods, especially additive manufacturing methods that have a substantial impact on FGM production, mentioning its prospects and how FGMs can change the direction of both industry and biomedicine. Any improvement in FGM knowledge and technology can lead to big steps toward its industrialization and most notably for much better implant designs with more biocompatibility and similarity to natural tissues that enhance the quality of life for human beings.

Tantalum Particles Induced Cytotoxic and Inflammatory Effects in Human Monocytes

The aim of this study is to evaluate the biological safety of tantalum (Ta) particles and to further explore the effects of Ta particles on human monocyte toxicity and inflammatory cytokine expression. Human monocyte leukemia (THP-1) cells were cultured with Ta and hydroxyapatite (HA) particles. Cell counting kit-8 method was used to evaluate the cytotoxicity of Ta and HA particles. The apoptosis effects were evaluated by flow cytometry, and the protein expression levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were evaluated by ELISA. The protein levels of inflammation-related signaling pathways including nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and extracellular regulated kinase (ERK) were detected by western blotting. The cytotoxicity test showed that the toxicity level of Ta in vitro was grade l, which is within the clinically acceptable range. Compared with the HA control, Ta had no significant effect on THP-1 cell apoptosis, IL-6, and TNF-α release. The phosphorylated levels of NF-κB and ERK at 3 h in the Ta group were lower than those in the HA and control groups (P < 0.001 both). These results reveal Ta particles behave good biosafety properties and provide some new insights for the future clinical use of Ta.

Effects of Surface Modification on Adsorption Behavior of Cell and Protein on Titanium Surface by Using Quartz Crystal Microbalance System

Primary stability and osseointegration are major challenges in dental implant treatments, where the material surface properties and wettability are critical in the early formation of hard tissue around the implant. In this study, a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) was used to measure the nanogram level amount of protein and bone marrow cells adhered to the surfaces of titanium (Ti) surface in real time. The effects of ultraviolet (UV) and atmospheric-pressure plasma treatment to impart surface hydrophilicity to the implant surface were evaluated. The surface treatment methods resulted in a marked decrease in the surface carbon (C) content and increase in the oxygen (O) content, along with super hydrophilicity. The results of QCM measurements showed that adhesion of both adhesive proteins and bone marrow cells was enhanced after surface treatment. Although both methods produced implants with good osseointegration behavior and less reactive oxidative species, the samples treated with atmospheric pressure plasma showed the best overall performance and are recommended for clinical use. It was verified that QCM is an effective method for analyzing the initial adhesion process on dental implants.

Antibacterial Layer-by-Layer Coatings for Medical Implants

The widespread occurrence of nosocomial infections and the emergence of new bacterial strands calls for the development of antibacterial coatings with localized antibacterial action that are capable of facing the challenges posed by increasing bacterial resistance to antibiotics. The Layer-by-Layer (LbL) technique, based on the alternating assembly of oppositely charged polyelectrolytes, can be applied for the non-covalent modification of multiple substrates, including medical implants. Polyelectrolyte multilayers fabricated by the LbL technique have been extensively researched for the development of antibacterial coatings as they can be loaded with antibiotics, antibacterial peptides, nanoparticles with bactericide action, in addition to being capable of restricting adhesion of bacteria to surfaces. In this review, the different approaches that apply LbL for antibacterial coatings, emphasizing those that can be applied for implant modification are presented.

Effect of working gas on physicochemical and biological properties of CaP coatings deposited by RFMS

Thin calcium phosphate (CaP) coatings were deposited on titanium substrates by radio frequency magnetron sputtering of hydroxyapatite target in the neon (Ne), argon (Ar), krypton (Kr) and xenon (Xe). The influence of the working gas (Ne, Ar, Kr and Xe) on the wettability, biodegradation in the RPMI 1640 synthetic culture medium of the CaP coatings. This paper is the first comprehensive study of working gas effect on properties of the CaP coatings. There was an increase in the polar component of surface free energy (SFE) and a decrease in the dispersion component of SFE with an increase of the atomic mass of the working gas. All CaP coatings had a pronounced protective effect up to 2 times reducing the number of dead cells in culture compared to the Ti control. The most soluble CaP coatings formed in the atmosphere of Xe stimulated the hAMMSCs division, which led to an increase in the total number of cells (208% of the initial culture). Samples with CaP coatings formed in an inert gases atmosphere increased gene expression (ALPL, BMP6, BMP2) in vitro. The most biocompatible coatings were coatings formed in the atmosphere of Xe and Ar.

The Influence of Nanostructured Hydroxyapatite Surface in the Early Stages of Osseointegration: A Multiparameter Animal Study in Low-Density Bone

Background and Objective

The success rates of dental implants in low-density bone have been reported as a challenge, especially for early or immediate loading in the maxilla posterior area. Nanoscale architecture affects the roughness, surface area, surface energy of the implant and can enhance osseointegration. This study aimed to evaluate the implant-surface topography and biomechanical, histomorphometric, and histological bone responses to a new nanostructured hydroxyapatite surface placed in the iliac crest of sheep.

Methods

Ten female sheep (2–4 years) received 30 implants (n=10/group): HAnano^® coated (Epikut Plus^®, S.I.N. Implant System, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil), SLActive (BLX^®, Straumann, Basel, Switzerland), and TiUnite (NobelActive^®, Nobel Biocare, Göteborg, Sweden) surfaces. Scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive spectroscopy evaluated the implant surface topography, the insertion torque value, and resonance frequency analysis evaluated the primary stability, bone-implant contact, and bone-area fraction occupancy were evaluated after 14 and 28 days after implant placement.

Results

The surface morphology was considerably comparable between the implant groups’; however, the TiUnite^® group presented a remarkable different surface. The SLActive^® and TiUnite^® groups presented an insertion torque average of 74 (±8.9) N/cm that was similar to that of HAnano^® 72 (±8.3) N/cm (p >0.05). The resonance frequency evaluated with Osstell^®/SmartPeg^® or Penguin^®/MulTipeg^® showed similar results when assessing implants from the same group. BIC and BAFO significantly increased (p<0.05) throughout the experimental periods to all groups, but BIC and BAFO values were similar among the implants at the same time point. After 4 weeks, bone-implant contact was higher than 80% of the total length analyzed. New bone occupies around 60% of analyzed area around the implants.

Conclusion

HAnano^® coated surface promoted comparable osseointegration as SLActive and TiUnite in the sheep model. The three tested surfaces showed comparable osseointegration at the early stages of low-density bone repair in the sheep model.

Surface Modified Techniques and Emerging Functional Coating of Dental Implants

Dental implants are widely used in the field of oral restoration, but there are still problems leading to implant failures in clinical application, such as failed osseointegration, marginal bone resorption, and peri-implantitis, which restrict the success rate of dental implants and patient satisfaction. Poor osseointegration and bacterial infection are the most essential reasons resulting in implant failure. To improve the clinical outcomes of implants, many scholars devoted to modifying the surface of implants, especially to preparing different physical and chemical modifications to improve the osseointegration between alveolar bone and implant surface. Besides, the bioactive-coatings to promote the adhesion and colonization of ossteointegration-related proteins and cells also aim to improve the osseointegration. Meanwhile, improving the anti-bacterial performance of the implant surface can obstruct the adhesion and activity of bacteria, avoiding the occurrence of inflammation related to implants. Therefore, this review comprehensively investigates and summarizes the modifying or coating methods of implant surfaces, and analyzes the ossteointegration ability and anti-bacterial characteristics of emerging functional coatings in published references.

Cobalt Chromium Molybdenum Surface Modifications Alter the Osteogenic Differentiation Potential of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Surface roughness on orthopedic implant materials has been shown to be highly influential on the behavior of osteogenic cells. Mesenchymal stem and progenitor cells (MSPCs) migrate to the interface, adhere, proliferate, and differentiate into osteoblasts, which subsequently form bone matrix. Modifications of the implant surfaces should accelerate this process and improve biocompatibility. In this study, five surface topographies on cobalt chromium molybdenum (CoCrMo) were engineered to examine the influence on MSPCs. Scanning electron microscopy revealed significant differences in the morphology of untreated CoCrMo discs in comparison with CoCrMo with a titanium nitride (TiN) coating, polished and porous coated CoCrMo surfaces, and CoCrMo with a pure titanium (cpTi) coating. Elemental analysis was performed using energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). Human primary MSPCs were expanded from tissue samples of spongiosa bone and characterized according to the criteria of the International Society for Cellular Therapy. The characteristic phenotype of MSPC was confirmed by flow cytometry and multilineage differentiation. Alcaline phosphatase and osteopontin expression increased significantly in all groups about 5-fold and 10-fold, respectively, in comparison to the undifferentiated controls. The porous coated surface showed a reduced expression of osteogenic markers. Due to the osteogenic differentiation, the expression of integrin α5β1, which is particularly important for cell-material contact, increased 4–7-fold. In the dynamic process of bone biology, MSPCs cultured and differentiated on cpTi, showed significant upregulation of IL6 and leptin.

Using HAADF-STEM for atomic-scale evaluation of incorporation of antibacterial Ag atoms in a β-tricalcium phosphate structure

Structural evaluation of ionic additions in calcium phosphates that enhance their performance is a long-lasting area of research in the field of biomedical materials. Ionic incorporation in β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) structures is indispensable for obtaining desirable properties for specific functions and applications. Owing to its complex structure and beam-sensitive nature, determining the extent of ion incorporation and its corresponding location in the β-TCP structure is challenging. Further, very few experimental studies have been able to estimate the location of Ag atoms incorporated in a β-TCP structure while considering the associated changes in lattice parameters. Although the incorporation alters the lattice parameters, the alteration is not significant enough for estimating the location of the incorporated Ag atoms. Here, Ag incorporation in a β-TCP structure was evaluated on atomic scale using scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report to unambiguously determine the location of the incorporated Ag atoms in the β-TCP structure by comparing z-contrast profiles of the Ag and Ca atoms by combining the state-of-art STEM observations and STEM image simulations. The Ag incorporation in the Ca(4) sites of β-TCP, as estimated by the Rietveld refinement, was in good agreement with the high-angle annular dark-field STEM observations and the simulations of the location of Ag atoms for [001] and [010] zone axes.

Bioactive Surfaces vs. Conventional Surfaces in Titanium Dental Implants: A Comparative Systematic Review

Animal studies and the scarce clinical trials available that have been conducted suggest that bioactive surfaces on dental implants could improve the osseointegration of such implants. The purpose of this systematic review was to compare the effectiveness of osseointegration of titanium (Ti) dental implants using bioactive surfaces with that of Ti implants using conventional surfaces such as sandblasted large-grit acid-etched (SLA) or similar surfaces. Applying the guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) statement, the MEDLINE, PubMed Central and Web of Science databases were searched for scientific articles in April 2020. The keywords used were “dental implants”, “bioactive surfaces”, “biofunctionalized surfaces”, and “osseointegration”, according to the question: “Do bioactive dental implant surfaces have greater osseointegration capacity compared with conventional implant surfaces?” Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration tool. 128 studies were identified, of which only 30 met the inclusion criteria: 3 clinical trials and 27 animal studies. The average STROBE (STrengthening the Reporting of OBservational studies in Epidemiology) and ARRIVE (Animal Research: Reporting of In Vivo Experiments) scores were 15.13 ± 2.08 and 17.7±1.4, respectively. Implant stability quotient (ISQ) was reported in 3 studies; removal torque test (RTT)—in 1 study; intraoral periapical X-ray and microcomputed tomography radiological evaluation (RE)—in 4 studies; shear force (SF)—in 1 study; bone-to-implant contact (BIC)—in 12 studies; and BIC and bone area (BA) jointly—in 5 studies. All animal studies reported better bone-to-implant contact surface for bioactive surfaces as compared to control implants with a statistical significance of p < 0.05. Regarding the bioactive surfaces investigated, the best results were yielded by the one where mechanical and chemical treatment methods of the Ti surfaces were combined. Hydroxyapatite (HA) and calcium–phosphate (Ca–Ph) were the most frequently used bioactive surfaces. According to the results of this systematic review, certain bioactive surfaces have a positive effect on osseointegration, although certain coating biomolecules seem to influence early peri-implant bone formation. Further and more in-depth research in this field is required to reduce the time needed for osseointegration of dental implants.

The corrosion resistance, cytotoxicity, and antibacterial properties of lysozyme coatings on orthodontic composite arch wires

Objective: The corrosion resistance of new orthodontic composite arch wires (CAWs), which have excellent mechanical properties in a simulated oral environment, must be improved. This study explored the susceptibility to corrosion, in vitro cytotoxicity, and antibacterial properties of lysozyme-coated CAWs. Methods: Lysozyme coating of laser-welded CAW surfaces was prepared by liquid phase deposition. Four groups of CAW specimens were prepared: uncoated CAWs and CAWs coated with 20, 40, and 60 g L⁻¹ lysozyme. The surface morphology of the lysozyme coatings was characterized by atomic force microscopy. The samples were immersed in artificial saliva (AS) for 2 weeks, and corrosion morphology was then observed by scanning electron microscopy. Corrosion behavior was characterized according to weight loss and electrochemical properties. The cytotoxicity and antibacterial properties of lysozyme-coated CAWs were assessed by cell counting kit-8 assay and a live/dead bacterial test, respectively. Results: Surfaces in the three lysozyme coating groups exhibited film-like deposition, the thickness of which increased with the lysozyme concentration. Surface pitting and copper ion precipitation decreased with increasing lysozyme concentration in coatings. The corrosion tendency declined as the corrosion and pitting potentials decreased. The corrosion morphology and electrochemical parameters together indicated that lysozyme coatings increased corrosion resistance. The coatings also reduced cytotoxicity to L-929 cells and increased anti-Staphylococcus aureus ability. Conclusions: Lysozyme coating of CAW surfaces by liquid phase deposition improved the corrosion resistance of CAWs. The protective coatings improved biocompatibility and endowed the CAW surfaces with certain degrees of anti-Staphylococcus aureus activity. Different lysozyme concentrations had different protective effects, with 40 g L⁻¹ maybe being the ideal lysozyme concentration for CAW coatings.

The corrosion resistance of new orthodontic composite arch wires (CAWs), which have excellent mechanical properties in a simulated oral environment, must be improved.

Production of High Silicon-Doped Hydroxyapatite Thin Film Coatings via Magnetron Sputtering: Deposition, Characterisation, and In Vitro Biocompatibility

In recent years, it has been found that small weight percent additions of silicon to HA can be used to enhance the initial response between bone tissue and HA. A large amount of research has been concerned with bulk materials, however, only recently has the attention moved to the use of these doped materials as coatings. This paper focusses on the development of a co-RF and pulsed DC magnetron sputtering methodology to produce a high percentage Si containing HA (SiHA) thin films (from 1.8 to 13.4 wt.%; one of the highest recorded in the literature to date). As deposited thin films were found to be amorphous, but crystallised at different annealing temperatures employed, dependent on silicon content, which also lowered surface energy profiles destabilising the films. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was used to explore the structure of silicon within the films which were found to be in a polymeric (SiO2; Q4) state. However, after annealing, the films transformed to a SiO44−, Q0, state, indicating that silicon had substituted into the HA lattice at higher concentrations than previously reported. A loss of hydroxyl groups and the maintenance of a single-phase HA crystal structure further provided evidence for silicon substitution. Furthermore, a human osteoblast cell (HOB) model was used to explore the in vitro cellular response. The cells appeared to prefer the HA surfaces compared to SiHA surfaces, which was thought to be due to the higher solubility of SiHA surfaces inhibiting protein mediated cell attachment. The extent of this effect was found to be dependent on film crystallinity and silicon content.

Comparison of Mechanical and Barrier Properties of Al2O3/TiO2/ZrO2 Layers in Oxide-Hydroxyapatite Sandwich Composite Coatings Deposited by Sol-Gel Method on Ti6Al7Nb Alloy

In this study, coatings of different oxides (TiO2, Al2O3, ZrO2) and hydroxyapatite (HAp) as well as sandwich composite hydroxyapatite with an oxides sublayer (oxide+HAp) were deposited on Ti6Al7Nb alloy using the sol-gel dip-coating method. The coatings were characterized in terms of morphology (optical microscope), surface topography (AFM), thickness (ellipsometry), and crystal structure (XRD/GIXRD). The mechanical properties of the coatings-hardness, Young's modulus, and adhesion to the substrate-were examined using nanoindentation and scratch tests. The barrier properties of the coatings against the migration of aluminum ions were examined by measuring their concentration after soaking in Hank's balanced salt solution (HBSS) with the use of optical emission spectrometry of inductively coupled plasma (ICPOES). It was found that all the oxide and HAp coatings reduced the permeation of Al ions from the Ti6Al7Nb alloy substrate. The best features revealed an Al2O3 layer that had excellent barrier properties and the best adhesion to the substrate. Al2O3 as a sublayer significantly improved the properties of the sandwich composite HAp coating.

Properties of Nanohydroxyapatite Coatings Doped with Nanocopper, Obtained by Electrophoretic Deposition on Ti13Zr13Nb Alloy

Nowadays, hydroxyapatite coatings are the most common surface modification of long-term implants. These coatings are characterized by high thickness and poor adhesion to the metallic substrate. The present research is aimed at characterizing the properties of nanohydroxyapatite (nanoHAp) with the addition of copper nanoparticle (nanoCu) coatings deposited on the Ti13Zr13Nb alloy by an electrophoresis process. The deposition of coatings was carried out for various amounts of nanoCu powder and various average particle sizes. Microstructure, topography, phase, and chemical composition were examined with scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and X-ray diffraction. Corrosion properties were determined by potentiodynamic polarization technique in simulated body fluid. Nanomechanical properties were determined based on nanoindentation and scratch tests. The wettability of coatings was defined by the contact angle. It was proven that nanoHAp coatings containing nanocopper, compared to nanoHAp coatings without nanometals, demonstrated smaller number of cracks, lower thickness, and higher nanomechanical properties. The influence of the content and the average size of nanoCu on the quality of the coatings was observed. All coatings exhibited hydrophilic properties. The deposition of nanohydroxyapatite coatings doped with nanocopper may be a promising way to improve the antibacterial properties and mechanical stability of coatings.