Antibacterial and bioactivity of silver substituted hydroxyapatite/TiO2 nanotube composite coatings on titanium

Hydroxyapatite doped with Ag+ ions (AgHAp) was synthesized via electrochemical deposition method on anodized titanium. The samples were characterized via X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectrum analysis, X-Ray photoelectron spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy to investigate the phase formation and microstructure of the samples. Highly ordered TiO2 nanotubes with a diameter of 100 nm were successfully synthesized, and the AgHAp coating was deposited on the TiO2 nanotubes, which has a thickness of about 17.7 ± 1.5 μm. Moreover, silver was uniformly-distributed on the nanotubes. Bioactivity and electrochemical studies were performed for the AgHAp-coated TiO2 in a simulated body fluid, where significant good bioactivity and corrosion resistance were exhibited. The antibacterial and osteoblast cell adhesion tests in vitro revealed that the AgHAp coating with 2.03 wt% silver had significant antibacterial and osteogenic properties. Thus, the AgHAp coating was regarded as a promising candidate for coating orthopedic implants.