Fabrication and Characterization of Suspension Plasma-Sprayed Fluoridated Hydroxyapatite Coatings for Biomedical Applications

Fluoridated hydroxyapatite (FHA) coatings were prepared on a Ti substrate using a suspension plasma spraying technique. The crystalline phases and chemical compositions of the coatings were characterized using x-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The analysis confirmed that the coating consisted of an FHA phase. The corrosion behavior in simulated body fluid was studied using potentiodynamic polarization tests, and the results indicated that the FHA coating greatly enhanced the corrosion resistance of the Ti substrate. The chemical stability of the FHA coatings was assessed by evaluating the release of Ca²⁺ ions. The results indicated that the substitution of fluorine into the hydroxyapatite (HA) structure had a positive effect on the dissolution resistance of the HA. The antibacterial activity was investigated using a surface-plating method; the results revealed that the antibacterial activity of the FHA coating was greater than that of the pure HA coatings. During cell culture tests, the FHA coating did not exhibit cytotoxicity toward the osteoblast cell line, and the cell proliferation was comparable with that of the HA coatings. The antibacterial activity and cell culture results suggested that the plasma-sprayed FHA coating possesses good antibacterial qualities, but is biocompatible with osteoblasts. The promising features of the FHA coating render it suitable for orthopedic and dental applications.