Electrohydrodynamic coating of metal with nano-sized hydroxyapatite

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Li, Xiang | Huang, Jie | Ahmad, Zeeshan | Edirisinghe, Mohan

Affiliations: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University College London, London, UK

Note: [] Address for correspondence: Prof. Mohan Edirisinghe, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University College London, Torrington Place, London WC1E 7JE, UK. E-mail: m.edirisinghe@ucl.ac.uk

Abstract: Electrohydrodynamic spray deposition of a hydroxyapatite (HA) suspension consisting of nano-particles has been used to create a hydroxyapatite coating comprising of nanostructured surface topography. Preliminary coating experiments were carried out on an Al substrate and 30 s was found to be the most appropriate coating time. HA coating on titanium for this duration was found to be well-bonded to the substrate after heat-treatment. A thickness of 2 μm was achieved in 30 s and formation of a bone-like apatite on the surface was detected after incubation of the heat-treated coated Ti in simulated body fluid. Therefore, we have uncovered a new procedure by which nano-biomaterials can be deposited on real orthopedic substrates to prepare bioactive thin coatings in a simple and easy manner.

Keywords: Nano-hydroxyapatite, electrohydrodynamic, coating, titanium

Journal: Bio-Medical Materials and Engineering, vol. 17, no. 6, pp. 335-346, 2007