Mechanistic studies of biomineralisation on silver incorporated anatase TiO₂

Here we report silver incorporated anatase TiO₂ developed on Ti metal by H₂O₂-AgNO₃ and heat treatment to have faster biomineralisation or apatite-forming ability in simulated body fluid (SBF). Apatite-forming ability has been investigated concerning heat treatment temperatures ranges, 400-800 °C and duration of soaking period in SBF. The apatite formation showed an increasing trend with increase in the heat treatment temperatures up to 600 °C and beyond that the Ti metal lost this ability. XRD as wells as Raman results of such chemical and heat-treated Ti metal at different temperatures further correlates the apatite nucleation directly in relation with that of anatase to rutile TiO₂ formation. Further, a time dependent apatite mineralisation study by XPS revealed simultaneous calcium and phosphate deposition at the early stage of soaking in SBF. Therefore, the apatite nucleation in the present chemically treated Ti metal depends on the crystalline phase of TiO₂ formed by H₂O₂ and heat treatment along with Ag⁺ ion release.