Preparation and characterization of nanosized silver phosphate loaded hydroxyapatite by single step co-conversion process

The preparation and characterization of silver phosphate nanoparticles loaded hydroxyapatite aiming to enhance the bactericidal performance by a single step co-conversion technique using low temperature phosphorization in the presence of various silver nitrate concentration (AgNO3, ranging 0.001–0.1 M) was performed. Characterization by using X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy showed that hydroxyapatite and silver phosphate were the main phases in all converted samples and the microstructure comprised the distribution of spherical-shaped silver phosphate nanoparticles within the cluster of hydroxyapatite nanocrystals. Total silver content (ranging 0.09–5.6%) in the converted samples was found to increase with increasing silver nitrate content. Flexural modulus and strength of converted samples remained unchanged for samples using silver nitrate between 0.001 and 0.01 M, but decreased at greater silver nitrate concentration. Antibacterial activity of two selected samples (0.001 and 0.005 M AgNO3) against two bacterial strains (Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus) was observed since 100% reduction of viable cells after 24 h contact was detected. Cytotoxic potential by MTT assay of sample using 0.001 M AgNO3 was only observed at 24 h extraction, but was seen at all extraction periods (24–72 h) for sample using 0.005 M AgNO3.

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► Low temperature and single step process for producing nanosized Ag3PO4/HA.
► Ag3PO4 content (0.09–5.6%) increased with increasing AgNO3 (0.001–0.1 M).
► Mean particle size of formed Ag3PO4 was less than 5 nm.
► Flexural properties of Ag3PO4/HA was comparable to HA when using AgNO3 < 0.01 M.
► Ag3PO4/HA showed antibacterial activity against gram positive and negative strains.