Effect of Sr on the bioactivity and corrosion resistance of nanoporous niobium oxide coating for orthopaedic applications

Influence of Magnetron Sputtering-Deposited Niobium Nitride Coating and Its Thermal Oxidation on the Properties of AISI 316L Steel in Terms of Its Medical Applications

An NbN coating was produced on AISI 316L steel using reactive DC magnetron sputtering. The effects of oxidation of the NbN coating in air on the microstructure, mechanical properties, corrosion resistance, contact angle and bioactivity were investigated. Phase composition was determined using X-ray diffraction (XRD), the coatings' cross-sectional microstructure and thickness including surface morphology using a scanning electron microscope (SEM), microhardness via the Vickers method, corrosion by means of a potentiodynamic polarisation test in Ringer's solution and bioactivity by observation in an SBF solution, while the contact angle was studied using a goniometer. The NbN coating and the oxidised coating were shown to demonstrate a Ca/P ratio close to that of hydroxyapatite, as well as increased microhardness and corrosion resistance. The best combination of mechanical, corrosion, bioactivity and hydrophilic properties was demonstrated by the air oxidised NbN coating, which featured an orthorhombic Nb2O5 structure in the top, surface layer.

Progress in Niobium Oxide-Containing Coatings for Biomedical Applications: A Critical Review

Typically, pure niobium oxide coatings are deposited on metallic substrates, such as commercially pure Ti, Ti6Al4 V alloys, stainless steels, niobium, TiNb alloy, and Mg alloys using techniques such as sputter deposition, sol-gel deposition, anodizing, and wet plasma electrolytic oxidation. The relative advantages and limitations of these coating techniques are considered, with particular emphasis on biomedical applications. The properties of a wide range of pure and modified niobium oxide coatings are illustrated, including their thickness, morphology, microstructure, elemental composition, phase composition, surface roughness and hardness. The corrosion resistance, tribological characteristics and cell viability/proliferation of the coatings are illustrated using data from electrochemical, wear resistance and biological cell culture measurements. Critical R&D needs for the development of improved future niobium oxide coatings, in the laboratory and in practice, are highlighted.

Influences of niobium pentoxide on roughness, hydrophilicity, surface energy and protein absorption, and cellular responses to PEEK based composites for orthopedic applications

To improve the bio-performances of polyetheretherketone (PEEK) for orthopedic applications, submicro-particles of niobium pentoxide (Nb2O5) were synthesized using a sol-gel method, and PEEK/Nb2O5 composites (PNC) with a Nb2O5 content of 25v% (PNC25) and 50v% (PNC50) were fabricated by utilizing a process of pressing-sintering. The results showed that the Nb2O5 particles were not only dispersed in the composites but also exposed on the surface of the composites, which formed submicro-structural surfaces. In addition, the hydrophilicity, surface energy, surface roughness and absorption of proteins of the composites were improved with increasing Nb2O5 content. Moreover, the release of Nb ions with the highest concentration of 5.01 × 10-6 mol L-1 from the composite into the medium displayed no adverse effects on cell proliferation and morphology, indicating no cytotoxicity. Furthermore, compared with PEEK, the composites, especially PNC50, obviously stimulated adhesion and proliferation as well as osteogenic differentiation of bone mesenchymal stem cells of rats. The results suggested that the incorporation of Nb2O5 submicro-particles into PEEK produced novel bioactive composites with improved surface properties, which played important roles in regulating cell behaviors. In conclusion, the composites, especially PNC50 with good cytocompatibility and promotion of cellular responses, exhibited great potential as implantable materials for bone repair.

Characterization of electron beam deposited Nb2O5 coatings for biomedical applications

Niobium oxide coatings deposited on Ti₆Al₄V substrates by electron beam deposition and annealed in air at 600 °C and 800 °C were evaluated for their suitability towards dental, maxillofacial or orthopaedic implant applications. A detailed physico-chemical properties investigation was carried out in order to determine their elemental and phase composition, surface morphology and roughness, mechanical properties, wettability, and corrosion resistance in simulated body fluid solution (pH = 7.4) at room temperature. The biocompatibility of the bare Ti₆Al₄V substrate and coated surfaces was evaluated by testing the cellular adhesion and viability/proliferation of human osteosarcoma cells (MG-63) after 72 h of incubation. The coatings annealed at 800 °C exhibit more phase pure nanocrystalline Nb₂O₅ surfaces with enhanced wettability, reduced porosity and enhanced corrosion resistance properties making them good candidate for dental, maxillofacial or orthopaedic implant applications.

Niobium pentoxide and hydroxyapatite particle loaded electrospun polycaprolactone/gelatin membranes for bone tissue engineering

Effective methods of accelerating the bone regeneration healing process are in demand for a number of bone-related diseases and trauma. This work developed scaffolds with improved properties for bone tissue engineering by electrospinning composite polycaprolactone-gelatin-hydroxyapatite-niobium pentoxide (PGHANb) membranes. Composite membranes, with average fiber diameters ranging from 123 to 156 nm, were produced by adding hydroxyapatite (HA) and varying concentrations of niobium pentoxide (Nb₂O₅) particles (0, 3, 7, and 10 wt%) to a polycaprolactone (PCL) and gelatin (GL) matrix prior to electrospinning. The morphology, mechanical, chemical and biological properties of resultant membranes were evaluated. Bioactivity was assessed using simulated body fluid (SBF) and it confirmed that the presence of particles induced the formation of hydroxyapatite crystals on the surface of the membranes. Samples were hydrophilic and cell metabolism results showed that the niobium-containing membranes were non-toxic while improving cell proliferation and differentiation compared to controls. This study demonstrated that electrospun membranes containing HA and Nb₂O₅ particles have potential to promote cell adhesion and proliferation while exhibiting bioactive properties. PGHANb membranes are promising candidates for bone tissue engineering applications.

The Influence of Electrolytic Concentration on the Electrochemical Deposition of Calcium Phosphate Coating on a Direct Laser Metal Forming Surface

A calcium phosphate (CaP) coating on titanium surface enhances its biocompatibility, thus facilitating osteoconduction and osteoinduction with the inorganic phase of the human bone. Electrochemical deposition has been suggested as an effective means of fabricating CaP coatings on porous surface. The purpose of this study was to develop CaP coatings on a direct laser metal forming implant using electrochemical deposition and to investigate the effect of electrolytic concentration on the coating's morphology and structure by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, water contact angle analysis, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. In group 10-2, coatings were rich in dicalcium phosphate, characterized to be thick, layered, and disordered plates. In contrast, in groups 10-3 and 10-4, the relatively thin and well-ordered coatings predominantly consisted of granular hydroxyapatite. Further, the hydrophilicity and cell affinity were improved as electrolytic concentration increased. In particular, the cells cultured in group 10-3 appeared to have spindle morphology with thick pseudopodia on CaP coatings; these spindles and pseudopodia strongly adhered to the rough and porous surface. By analyzing and evaluating the surface properties, we provided further knowledge on the electrolytic concentration effect, which will be critical for improving CaP coated Ti implants in the future.

Nb2O5 Nanostructure Evolution on Nb Surfaces via Low-Energy He+ Ion Irradiation

We propose low-energy, broad-beam He⁺ ion irradiation as a novel processing technique for the generation of Nb₂O₅ surface nanostructures due to its relative simplicity and scalability in a commercial setting. Since there have been relatively few studies involving the interaction of high-fluence, low-energy He⁺ ion irradiation and Nb (or its oxidized states), this systematic study explores both effects of fluence and sample temperature during irradiation on resulting surface morphology. Detailed normal and cross-sectional scanning electron microscopy (SEM) studies reveal subsurface He bubble formation and elucidate potential driving mechanisms for nanostructure evolution. A combination of specular optical reflectivity and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) is also used to gain additional information on roughness and stoichiometry of irradiated surfaces. Our investigations show significant surface modification for all tested irradiation conditions; the resulting surface structure size and geometry have a strong dependence on both sample temperature during irradiation and total ion fluence. Optical reflectivity measurements on irradiated surfaces demonstrate increased surface roughening with increasing ion fluence, and XPS shows higher oxidation levels for samples irradiated at lower temperatures, suggesting larger surface roughness and porosity. Overall, it was found that low-energy He⁺ ion irradiation is an efficient processing technique for nanostructure formation, and surface structures are highly tunable by adjusting ion fluence and Nb₂O₅ sample temperature during irradiation. These findings may have excellent potential applications for solar energy conversion through improved efficiency due to effective light absorption.

Impedance spectroscopy and mechanical response of porous nanophase hydroxyapatite-barium titanate composite

The present study aims to develop the porous nanophase hydroxyapatite (HA)-barium titanate (BT) composite with reasonable mechanical and electrical properties as an electrically-active prosthetic orthopedic implant alternate. The porous samples (densification ~40-70%) with varying amounts of BT (0, 25, 35 and 100 vol.%) in HA were synthesized using optimal spark plasma sintering conditions, which revealed the thermochemical stability between both the phases. The reasonably good combination of functional properties such as compressive [(236.00 ± 44.90)MPa] and flexural [(56.18 ± 5.82) MPa] strengths, AC conductivity [7.62 × 10(-9)(ohm-cm)(-1) at 10 kHz] and relative permittivity [15.20 at 10 kHz] have been achieved with nanostructured HA-25 vol.% BT composite as far as significant sample porosity (~30%) is concerned. Detailed impedance spectroscopic analysis was performed to reveal the electrical microstructure of developed porous samples. The resistance and capacitance values (at 500 °C) of grain (RG, CG) and grain boundary (RGB, CGB) for the porous HA-25 vol.% BT composite are (1.3 × 10(7) ohm, 3.1 × 10(-11)F) and (1.6 × 10(7) ohm, 5.9 × 10(-10)F), respectively. Almost similar value of activation energy (~1-1.5 eV) for grain and grain boundary has been observed for all the samples. The mechanism of conduction is found to be same for porous monolithic HA as well as composite samples. Relaxation spectroscopic analyses suggest that both the localized as well as long range charge carrier translocations are responsible for conduction in these samples. The degree of polarization of porous samples has been assessed by measuring thermally stimulated depolarization current of the poled samples. The depolarization current is observed to depend on the heating rate. The maximum current density, measured for HA-25 vol.% BT sample at a heating rate of 1 °C/min is 2.7 nA/cm(2). Formation of oxygen vacancies due to the reduced atmosphere sintering contribute to the space charge polarization, which is obtained as the dominant polarization mechanism in the developed porous samples. Overall, such integrated functional responses do establish spark plasma sintered porous HA-BaTiO3 nanocomposite as potential alternative for electroactive prosthetic orthopedic implants.