Physico-Chemical Properties of Copper-Doped Hydroxyapatite Coatings Obtained by Vacuum Deposition Technique
Yassine Benali,
Daniela Predoi,
Krzysztof Rokosz,
Carmen Steluta Ciobanu,
Simona Liliana Iconaru,
Steinar Raaen,
Catalin Constantin Negrila,
Carmen Cimpeanu,
Roxana Trusca,
Liliana Ghegoiu,
Coralia Bleotu,
Ioana Cristina Marinas,
Miruna Stan,
Khaled Boughzala
Affiliations
Yassine Benali
Faculty of Sciences, University de Gafsa, Route de Tozeur, Gafsa 2112, Tunisia
Daniela Predoi
National Institute of Materials Physics, Atomistilor Street, No. 405A, 077125 Magurele, Romania
Krzysztof Rokosz
Faculty of Electronics and Computer Science, Koszalin University of Technology, Śniadeckich 2, PL 75-453 Koszalin, Poland
Carmen Steluta Ciobanu
National Institute of Materials Physics, Atomistilor Street, No. 405A, 077125 Magurele, Romania
Simona Liliana Iconaru
National Institute of Materials Physics, Atomistilor Street, No. 405A, 077125 Magurele, Romania
Steinar Raaen
Department of Physics, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Realfagbygget E3-124 Høgskoleringen 5, NO 7491 Trondheim, Norway
Catalin Constantin Negrila
National Institute of Materials Physics, Atomistilor Street, No. 405A, 077125 Magurele, Romania
Carmen Cimpeanu
Faculty of Land Reclamation and Environmental Engineering, University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest, 59 Marasti Blvd, 011464 Bucharest, Romania
Roxana Trusca
National Centre for Micro and Nanomaterials, University Politehnica of Bucharest, 060042 Bucharest, Romania
Liliana Ghegoiu
National Institute of Materials Physics, Atomistilor Street, No. 405A, 077125 Magurele, Romania
Coralia Bleotu
Department of Cellular and Molecular Pathology, Stefan S. Nicolau Institute of Virology, 030304 Bucharest, Romania
Ioana Cristina Marinas
Research Institute of the University of Bucharest (ICUB), University of Bucharest, 060023 Bucharest, Romania
Miruna Stan
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, 91-95 Splaiul Independentei, 050095 Bucharest, Romania
Khaled Boughzala
Higher Institute of Technological Studies of Ksar Hellal, Ksar-Hellal 5070, Tunisia
The hydroxyapatite and copper-doped hydroxyapatite coatings (Ca10−xCux(PO4)6(OH)2; xCu = 0, 0.03; HAp and 3CuHAp) were obtained by the vacuum deposition technique. Then, both coatings were analyzed by the X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and water contact angle techniques. Information regarding the in vitro antibacterial activity and biological evaluation were obtained. The XRD studies confirmed that the obtained thin films consist of a single phase associated with hydroxyapatite (HAp). The obtained 2D and 3D SEM images did not show cracks or other types of surface defects. The FTIR studies’ results proved the presence of vibrational bands characteristic of the hydroxyapatite structure in the studied coating. Moreover, information regarding the HAp and 3CuHAp surface wettability was obtained by water contact angle measurements. The biocompatibility of the HAp and 3CuHAp coatings was evaluated using the HeLa and MG63 cell lines. The cytotoxicity evaluation of the coatings was performed by assessing the cell viability through the MTT assay after incubation with the HAp and 3CuHAp coatings for 24, 48, and 72 h. The results proved that the 3CuHAp coatings exhibited good biocompatible activity for all the tested intervals. The ability of Pseudomonas aeruginosa 27853 ATCC (P. aeruginosa) cells to adhere to and develop on the surface of the HAp and 3CuHAp coatings was investigated using AFM studies. The AFM studies revealed that the 3CuHAp coatings inhibited the formation of P. aeruginosa biofilms. The AFM data indicated that P. aeruginosa’s attachment and development on the 3CuHAp coatings were significantly inhibited within the first 24 h. Both the 2D and 3D topographies showed a rapid decrease in attached bacterial cells over time, with a significant reduction observed after 72 h of exposure. Our studies suggest that 3CuHAp coatings could be suitable candidates for biomedical uses such as the development of new antimicrobial agents.
