Preparation of bio-inspired polydopamine coating on hydrated tricalcium silicate substrate to accelerate hydroxyapatite mineralization

A layer of polydopamine (PDA) was successfully deposited on hydrated tricalcium silicate (TCS) substrate via facile dip-coating of hydrated TCS disk in an aqueous solution of dopamine. The results showed that the continuous release of Ca(OH)2 from hydrated TCS substrate accelerated reaction of noncovalent self-assembly and covalent polymerization of dopamine and therefore a faster deposition of PDA coating on hydrated TCS substrate. Furthermore, amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP) that is the precursor phase of bone-like hydroxyapatite (HA) can rapidly precipitate on the surface of PDA-coated TCS within 5 min in simulated body fluid (SBF).