Magnetron co-sputtering was used to produce silicon-doped hydroxyapatite (Si-HA) as coatings intended for potential applications such as orthopedic and dental implants. It was found that the crystallinity of the as-sputtered coatings increased after annealing, resulting in a nanocrystalline apatite structure. Subsequently, the bioactivity of the coatings was evaluated in an acellular simulated body fluid (SBF). Physicochemical evaluation demonstrated that a carbonate-containing apatite layer, which is essential for bonding at the bone/implant interface, was formed on the coating surfaces after immersion in SBF between 4 and 7 days. The annealed coatings exhibited enhanced bioactivity and chemical stability under physiological conditions, as compared with the as-sputtered coatings. It is proposed that the rate at which the carbonate-containing apatite layer forms is dependent on the scale factor of the structure. A nanocrystalline structure can provide a higher number of nucleation sites for the formation of apatite crystallites, leading to a more rapid precipitation of carbonate-containing apatite layer. This work shows that Si-HA coatings offer considerable potential for applications in hard tissue replacement, owing to their ability to form a carbonate-containing apatite layer rapidly.
Copyright 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.