Novel Dextran Coated Cerium Doped Hydroxyapatite Thin Films

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Hydroxyapatite (HAp) is a key biomaterial for bone regeneration.
• Cerium doping can enhance HAp properties.
• Dextran coating improves biocompatibility and surface characteristics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To deposit dextran coated cerium doped hydroxyapatite (CeHAp-D) thin films on silicon substrates.
• To characterize the morphology, composition, and structure of the CeHAp-D coatings.
• To evaluate the biocompatibility of the developed coatings with human gingival fibroblasts.

Main Methods:

• Radio frequency magnetron sputtering for thin film deposition.
• Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) for surface morphology and composition analysis.
• Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Glow Discharge Optical Emission Spectroscopy (GDOES) for structural and elemental analysis.

Main Results:

• Successfully deposited smooth CeHAp-D thin films with no granular structures.
• FTIR confirmed the presence of both hydroxyapatite and dextran structural components.
• Human gingival fibroblasts maintained elongated morphology and proliferative capacity, indicating no disturbance.

Conclusions:

• The CeHAp-D composite coatings exhibit favorable surface morphology and composition.
• The developed coatings demonstrate excellent biocompatibility with human gingival fibroblasts.
• These findings suggest potential applications in biomedical devices and tissue engineering.