Chitosan-hydroxyapatite nanocomposite coatings for biomedical applications
Abstract
Nanocomposite coatings containing bioceramic hydroxyapatite (HA) and biopolymer chitosan have been prepared by a new electrochemical strategy based on the electrophoretic deposition of HA and electrochemical deposition of chitosan. The HA nanoparticles were synthesized by a chemical precipitation method. Nanocomposite coatings of various thicknesses in the range of up to 50 μm were obtained on metallic foils, wires, gauzes, and graphite substrates. The deposit composition was varied by the variation of HA concentration in chitosan solutions. Deposition yield can be controlled by the variation of the deposition time. X-ray studies revealed preferred orientation of HA nanoparticles in the nanocomposites with c-axis parallel to the coating surface. The method enables the formation of dense, adherent and uniform nanocomposite coatings on substrates of complex shape. Obtained coatings provide corrosion protection of the substrates and can be utilized for the fabrication of advanced biomedical implants.