International Journal of Molecular Sciences (Apr 2012)

Sol-Gel-Derived Hydroxyapatite-Carbon Nanotube/Titania Coatings on Titanium Substrates

  • Chuantong Liu,
  • Qing Bai,
  • Haihong Xu,
  • Jianfeng Ma,
  • Weiwei Lou,
  • Qi Wang,
  • Jinsong Liu,
  • Xiaoli Ji

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms13045242
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13, no. 4
pp. 5242 – 5253

Abstract

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In this paper, hydroxyapatite-carbon nanotube/titania (HA-CNT/TiO<sub>2</sub>) double layer coatings were successfully developed on titanium (Ti) substrates intended for biomedical applications. A TiO<sub>2</sub> coating was firstly developed by anodization to improve bonding between HA and Ti, and then the layer of HA and CNTs was coated on the surface by the sol-gel process to improve the biocompatibility and mechanical properties of Ti. The surfaces of double layer coatings were uniform and crack-free with a thickness of about 7 μm. The bonding strength of the HA-CNT/TiO<sub>2</sub> coating was higher than that of the pure HA and HA-CNT coatings. Additionally, <em>in vitro</em> cell experiments showed that CNTs promoted the adhesion of preosteoblasts on the HA-CNT/TiO<sub>2</sub> double layer coatings. These unique surfaces combined with the osteoconductive properties of HA exhibited the excellent mechanical properties of CNTs. Therefore, the developed HA-CNT/TiO<sub>2</sub> coatings on Ti substrates might be a promising material for bone replacement.

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