Calcium phosphate coatings for bio-implant applications: Materials, performance factors, and methodologies

Typical coating methodologies like ion beam assisted deposition, plasma spray deposition, pulsed laser physical vapor deposition, magnetron sputtering, sol-gel derived coatings, electrodeposition, micro-arc oxidation and laser deposition are extensively studied at laboratory scale. In the present article, attempts are made to give an overview of the basic principles behind the coating techniques as well as advantageous features such as bioactivity and biocompatibility associated with these coatings. A strong emphasis will be given on laser-induced textured and bioactive coatings obtained by the author's research group [A. Kurella, N.B. Dahotre, Journal of Biomedical Applications 20 (2005) 5-50; A. Kurella, N.B. Dahotre, Acta Biomaterialia 2 (2006) 677-688; A. Kurella, N.B. Dahotre, Journal of Minerals, Metals and Materials Society (JOM) 58 (2006) 64-66; A. Kurella, N.B. Dahotre, Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine 17 (2006) 565-572; P.G. Engleman, A. Kurella, A. Samant, C.A. Blue, N.B. Dahotre, Journal of Minerals, Metals and Materials Society (JOM) 57 (2005) 46-50; R. Singh, A. Kurella, N.B. Dahotre, Journal of Biomaterials Applications 21 (2006) 46-72; S.R. Paital, N.B. Dahotre, Biomedical Materials 2 (2007) 274-281; S.R. Paital, N.B. Dahotre, 2009, Acta Biomaterialia, doi:10.1016/j.actbio.2009.03.004; R. Singh, N.B. Dahotre, Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine 18 (2007) 725-751.]. Since cells are sensitive to topographical features ranging from mesoscale to nanoscale, formation of these features by both pulsed and continuous wave Nd:YAG laser system will be highlighted. This can also be regarded as advancement towards third generation biomaterials which are bioinert, bioactive and which once implanted will stimulate cell adhesion, proliferation and growth at the interface. Further, an overview of various bio-implants and bio-devices and materials used for these kinds of devices, performance factors such as mechanical and corrosion behavior and surface science associated with these materials are also explained. As the present article is aimed at describing the multidisciplinary nature of this exciting field it also provides a common platform to understand this subject in a simple way for students, researchers, teachers and engineers in the fields ranging from medicine, dentistry, biology, materials science, biomedicine, biomechanics to physics.