Fabrication of hydroxyapatite on pure titanium by micro-arc oxidation coupled with microwave-hydrothermal treatment

Porous hydroxyapatite (HA)-containing composite films were prepared by a novel method consisting of micro-arc oxidation (MAO) combined with microwave-hydrothermal (M-H) treatment. The morphology, composition and phase composition of the bioactive films were investigated with scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. MTT assay was carried out to investigate the in vitro effects of the different surfaces on bone integration properties. The prepared MAO films consisted mainly of anatase, rutile and tricalcium phosphate along with amorphous calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) phases. The M-H-treated composite films were composed primarily of anatase, rutile and HA. As the time and temperature of the M-H treatment increased, the number of HA crystals gradually increased. Using the M-H method, HA was obtained at a lower temperature and in a shorter period of time compared to the conventional hydrothermal method. The results suggest that the M-H method significantly decreases the hydrothermal reaction temperature and also greatly shortens the reaction time. Due to the nanocrystallinity and porosity of the prepared composite films, the method presented here shows promise for the formation of bioactive materials for medical applications.