Functionalizing Ti-Surfaces through the EPD of Hydroxyapatite/NanoY2O3

The Effect of Ca2+ and Mg2+ Ions Loaded at Degradable PLA Membranes on the Proliferation and Osteoinduction of MSCs

Biodegradable membranes, including Polylactic acid (PLA)-based membranes, are commonly used in bone-tissue-related clinical procedures as biointerface to promote bone tissue regeneration. Calcium (Ca²⁺) and Magnesium (Mg²⁺) ions have been related to the promotion of osteogenesis, where the PLA membranes could be used as carrier and delivery substrate for them to provide osteogenic properties to this material. For this aim, a new ion delivery system based on biodegradable PLA membranes loaded with Mg and hydroxyapatite (HA) particles has been processed by the combination of tape casting and colloidal route. Materials characterization shows that the incorporation of Mg and HA particles changes the surface and hydrophobicity of the PLA membrane, and the in vitro degradation test shows Mg²⁺ and Ca²⁺ ion release and occasionally the precipitation of different ion species onto the membrane surface. Mouse and human Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSC) were used to define the biocompatibility and bioactivity of these PLA membrane composites, and data indicated Mg²⁺ promotes cell proliferation and potentiates osteoinductive signals, while Ca²⁺ induces the expression of ALP osteogenic marker in human MSCs. Biodegradable PLA membranes loaded with Mg and HA particles is a promising new ion delivery system of Mg²⁺ and Ca²⁺ ions that provides osteogenic signals and works as functional biointerface interfaces with bone tissues.

Effect of Ta2O5 content on the osseointegration and cytotoxicity behaviors in hydroxyapatite-Ta2O5 coatings applied by EPD on superelastic NiTi alloys

In the present study, the different contents of tantalum pentoxide (Ta₂O₅: 10, 15, 20 and 30 wt%) nanoparticles were introduced into the natural hydroxyapatite (nHA) coating structure on NiTi substrate through electrophoretic deposition (EPD) method. The phase compositions of coatings were perused before and after the sintering at 800 °C for 1 h by XRD. The incorporation of 30wt%Ta₂O₅ into nHA matrix induced the formation of undesirable soluble Ca₃(PO₄)₂ phase in composite coating. The FESEM images showed that the density of continuous nHA coating increased by compositing with Ta₂O₅. The maximum adhesion strength of 28.3 ± 0.7 MPa accomplished from the nHA-20 wt%Ta₂O₅ composite coating. The Ni ions concentration measurement results from the passivated-NiTi with nHA and nHA-(10, 15 and 20)wt%Ta₂O₅ coatings during 30 days of immersion in PBS clarified the positive role of Ta₂O₅ in decreasing the Ni leaching due to the lowering the open porosities of nHA structure. The biological response of the coating surfaces was assessed in vitro by cell culturing and MTS assay. By considering the morphology and density of adsorbed cells on each coating, the improved biocompatibility of nHA coating in the presence of Ta₂O₅ was justified by scrutinizing the surface roughness, wettability and charge. The highest cell attachment and proliferation on nHA-20 wt%Ta₂O₅ coating was related to owning the lowest roughness, wetting angle of 34^o ± 0.5 and the highest negative surface charge density. Also, the concentration of the highest negative charge density on nHA-20 wt%Ta₂O₅ coating surface in the SBF solution caused to the enhancement of the amount of the apatite nuclei through providing more sites to calcium absorption.

Synthesis and characterization of Zn-Doped hydroxyapatite: scaffold application, antibacterial and bioactivity studies

In this study, the antimicrobial and scaffold of zinc-substituted hydroxyapatite, (Zn-HAp) synthesized via chemical co-precipitation technique was investigated. The structure of the synthesized Zn-HAp was investigated with X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, Scanning electron microscope (SEM), Energy dispersive X-spectroscopy (EDAX), transmission electron microscope (TEM), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Bioactivity study was performed in simulated body fluid (SBF), while the antimicrobial activity was studied using disc diffusion method. The XRD structure revealed that Zn ion incorporation up to 10% led to the second phase hydroxyapatite (HAp) formation, while higher concentration diminished the apatite structure. The presence of phosphate ions, carbonates ions, and hydroxyl groups in the apatite powder was ascertained by the FT-IR evaluation. SEM evaluation showed that the apatite contains fine particles with nearly round shape with interconnected pores and decreasing Ca/P ratio with increasing Zn ion concentration. TEM results showed particulate polycrystalline apatite with crystallite size ranging from 68 nm in pure HAp to 41 nm in 20% Zn-doped HAp indicating a decrease in the crystal size with increasing Zn ion in the samples. The bioactivity study showed spherical deposition around the porous region of the scaffold HAp suggesting the growth of apatite in SBF media after 7 days of incubation, while antibacterial activity studies showed zones of inhibition with an increase in zinc ions concentrations.

Ethanol electro-oxidation on nanoworm-shaped Pd particles supported by nanographitic layers fabricated by electrophoretic deposition

Different morphologies of nanographitic flake coatings used as catalyst supports for nanoworm-shaped palladium (Pd) were fabricated via the electrophoretic deposition (EPD) of dispersed nanographitic flakes in isopropyl alcohol.