Structural features of hydroxyapatite and carbonated apatite formed under the influence of ultrasound and microwave radiation and their effect on the bioactivity of the nanomaterials.

The samples of hydroxyapatite and carbonate substituted hydroxyapatite (CHA) were obtained under the influence of physical factors, namely ultrasound (US) and microwave (MW) radiations. The results of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis have proved the formation of the calcium deficient hydroxyapatite and B-type CHA with the Ca/P ratio in the ranges 1.62-1.87. In vitro studies have showed the increased bioactivity of the samples, synthesized under the influence of physical factors as compared to the standard ones. The samples of both groups, synthesized under the influence of 600 W MW, have shown the greatest stability in biological environment. In vivo tests confirm that obtained under US and MW radiations hydroxyapatite-based biomaterials are biocompatible, non-toxic and exhibit osteoconductive properties. The usage of US and MW radiations can significantly shorten the time (up to 5-20 min) of obtaining of calcium deficient hydroxyapatite and B-type CHA in nanopowder form, close in structure and composition to the biological hydroxyapatite.

Controllability of brushite structural parameters using an applied magnetic field.

The paper studies the influence of low intensity static magnetic field on brushite structural and microstructural parameters using the X-ray diffraction and the transmission electron microscopy. This effect was shown to have various influences on DCPD (Dicalcium Phosphate Dihydrate) structure depending on a magnetic field configuration or time of synthesis, which allows achieving controllability of the main properties of an obtained material. The influence of the magnetic field leads mostly to the decrease of crystallite sizes with no impact on the crystal lattice parameters. In (0 2 0) and (1 5 0) planes the growth of crystallite sizes is observed after 2 and 3 days of crystallization, respectively. The analysis of different contributions to peak broadening in [0 b 0] direction showed a similar trend for the crystallite sizes with the lower lattice microstrains after 2 days of synthesis. The effect similar to the preferred orientation was observed and classified with the Harris method.

Silver-doped hydroxyapatite coatings formed on Ti-6Al-4V substrates and their characterization.

Coatings with antibacterial components for medical implants are recommended to reduce the risk of bacterial infections. Therefore hydroxyapatite (HA) coatings with addition of chitosan (CS) and silver (Ag) are proposed in this work in an attempt to resolve this problem. Ti-6Al-4V substrates were modified by a chitosan film to study the influence of surface modification on the formation of the HA-Ag and HA-CS-Ag coatings. Using a thermal substrate method, HA and HA-CS coatings doped with Ag(+) were prepared at low substrate temperatures (90°C). Coated surfaces were examined using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The amount of silver in the deposited coatings was analyzed by atomic absorption spectroscopy. From this study it is concluded that the substrate surface modified by a chitosan film promotes the coating formation and increases the antibacterial activity of produced coatings against a strain of Escherichia coli. The adhesion of E. coli (ATCC 25922) to sheep erythrocytes was decreased by 14% as compared with the reference samples without Ag. It could be explained by the inhibition of bacterial adhesins by Ag(+) ions released. The combined action of silver ions and chitosan resulted in a 21% decrease in adhesive index.

A study of brushite crystallization from calcium-phosphate solution in the presence of magnesium under the action of a low magnetic field.

The paper discusses the crystallization of dicalcium phosphate dehydrate (DCPD) with subsequent transformation to nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite (НA) under the permanent magnetic field in the presence of magnesium. It was found that the presence of magnesium in the initial solution in concentrations of 0.01-0.03g/l decreased the crystallinity of calcium-phosphates. The precipitation of DCPD under the magnetic field of 0.3T was carried out in proximity of the north and south magnetic poles. The differences in the particle morphology and structure of precipitates with the same phase composition (DCPD) were observed in the neighborhood of the north and the south pole. Lattice parameters of DCPD precipitates obtained biomimetically near opposite magnet poles were calculated using XRD results. It was found that the increased crystallization time (more than 3days) leads to a complete attenuation of DCPD peaks, whereas НА peaks are still present.