Enhancement of wettability and antibiotic loading/release of hydroxyapatite thin film modified by 100Â MeV Ag7+ ion irradiation

► Reduction in particle size on irradiation leading to nanosized HAp. ► Enhancement of surface roughness and bioactivity on irradiation. ► Irradiation at lower fluence transforms the surface hydrophobic. ► The surface turned hydrophilic at higher fluence. ► Improved drug (amoxicillin) loading on irradiated samples.