Dense Nanostructured Hydroxyapatite Coating on Titanium by Aerosol Deposition

In order to improve biocompatibility of Ti metal substrates, 1-μm-thick nanostructured hydroxyapatite (HAp) coatings were deposited on the substrates through aerosol deposition, which sprays HAp powder with an average particle size of 3.2 μm at room temperature in vacuum. The original HAp particles were fractured into nanoscale fragments to form highly dense coating during the deposition process. Density of the HAp coating was 98.5% theoretical density (TD). Transmission electron microscopy observation revealed that the as-deposited coating consisted of HAp crystallites with average grain size of 16.2 nm and amorphous phase. Tensile adhesion strength between the coating and the substrate was 30.5±1.2 MPa. Annealing up to 500°C in air increased crystallinity and grain size in the coating without any delamination or crack according to X-ray diffraction analysis and electron microscopy. MTS assay and alkaline phosphatase activity measurements with MC3T3-E1 preosteoblast cell revealed that the biocompatibility was greatly improved by postdeposition heat treatment at 400°C in air due to well-crystallized HAp with average grain size of 29.3 nm. However, further heat treatment at 500°C deteriorated biocompatibility due to rapid growth of HAp grains to average size of 99 nm. Cross section of the coating on a commercially available Ti dental implant revealed full coverage of the surface with HAp.