Development of HA/Ag-NPs Composite Coating from Green Process for Hip Applications

Abstract

In the present study, biological hydroxyapatite (HA) was obtained from bovine bones through a thermal process. A total of 0% and 1% of silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) synthesized from <i>Opuntia ficus</i> (nopal) were added to the biological hydroxyapatite coatings using an atmospheric plasma spray (APS) on a Ti6Al4V substrate. Following this, its antimicrobial efficiency was evaluated against the following bacterial strains: <i>Escherichia coli</i>, <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>, and <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i>. This was conducted according to the Japanese Industrial Standard (JIS) Z2801:2000 "Antimicrobial Product-Test for Antimicrobial Activity and Efficacy". Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that the silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) were evenly distributed on the coating surface. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) shows that apatite deposition occurs on a daily basis, maintaining a Ca/P rate between 2.12 and 1.45. Biocompatibility properties were evaluated with osteoblast-like cells (MC3T3-E1) by single-cell gel electrophoresis assay and Tali image cytometry.