PREPARATION AND BIOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF PLD-BASED FORSTERITE–HYDROXYAPATITE NANOCOMPOSITE COATING ON STAINLESS STEEL 316L

Abstract

The present work deals with the fabrication of forsterite–hydroxyapatite (FS–HA) hybrid coatings on stainless-steel 316L using the pulsed laser deposition (PLD) technique. The stainless steel (SS 316L) as a metallic implant is widely used in hard tissue applications. The XRD studies have confirmed the crystalline behavior of synthesized FS powder with an average crystallite size of 54[Formula: see text]nm. The synthesized FS powder was mixed in different compositions (10, 20, 30[Formula: see text]wt.%) into HA for preparing PLD targets (pellets). The XRD of the prepared pellets by UTM has confirmed both phases of FS and HA. The Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) of the coated samples depicted the successful deposition of composite powders on the substrates (SS 316[Formula: see text]L). The Ellipsometer was used to investigate the thickness of different substrates and it was found as 243, 251, 255, and 257[Formula: see text]nm for CP1, CP2, CP3, and CP4, respectively. The bioactivity of the coated substrates with different compositions (pure HA, 10%, 20%, 30%, and pure FS) was investigated by immersing the samples in simulated body fluid (SBF) for 14[Formula: see text]days. The same samples were then characterized by SEM which confirms the apatite layer formation that reflects the bioactivity. The addition of FS powder into HA will stimulate the apatite formation which enhances the bioactivity. The Raman Spectroscopy of coated samples reveals the successful deposition of different compositions of FS–HA nanocomposite. The peaks of Raman spectroscopy were corresponding to the XRD results of the pellets (different compositions of FS–HA). The antimicrobial activity of different compositions of FS–HA against Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria also showed a significant zone of inhibition. The bioactivity and antimicrobial behavior of FS–HA along with successful deposition by PLD have shown better potential applications for biomedical implant coating.