Surface nanocrystallization of hydroxyapatite coating

Nanocharactered biomaterials, such as nanopowders, nanocrystalline compacts and nanostructured films, as well as materials with nanoscale roughness, have attracted much attention recently, due to their clear effects on cell response. Surface nanocrystallization of plasma-sprayed hydroxyapatite (HA) coating can be realized by conventional post-heat treatment. This study reveals that 20–30 nm nanocrystals formed on HA coatings post-heat treated at 650 °C, and the increase in holding time increased the number of surface nanocrystals and intensified their aggregation. Hard aggregation occurred when HA coatings were repetitively post-heat treated. This indicates that the surface nanocrystallization is controllable. Cell experiments were carried out with rat calvarial osteoblasts. The post-heat treated HA coatings exhibit an obviously better osteoblast response than the as-sprayed coatings. Well-flattened cells attached themselves to the coating surfaces, with a good interaction between their filopodia and the nanocrystallized region. It is proposed that the surface nanocrystallization should be taken into account when the post-heat treatment process is introduced for the fabrication of HA coatings.