Coatings Based on Organic/Non-Organic Composites on Bioinert Ceramics by Using Biomimetic Co-Precipitation

Bioinert ceramics have been commonly used in the field of orthopedic and dentistry due to their excellent mechanical properties, esthetic look, good biocompatibility and chemical inertness. However, an activation of its bioinert surface could bring additional advantages for better implant-integration in vivo. Therefore, we introduce an innovative biomimetic co-precipitation technique by using modified simulated body fluid (SBF) to obtain a composite coating made of organic/non-organic components. The zirconia samples were soaked in SBF containing different concentrations of protein (0.01, 0.1, 1, 10 and 100 g/l). Bovine serum albumin (BSA) was applied as a standard protein. During the soaking time, a precipitation of calcium phosphate took place on the substrate surfaces. The proteins were incorporated into the coating during precipitation. Morphology changes of precipitated hydroxyapatite (HAp) due to the presence of proteins were observed on SEM-images. The presence of proteins within the coating was proven by using SEM/energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and immunohistochemical analysis. We conclude that it is possible to co-precipitate the organic/non-organic composite on inert ceramic by using the wet-chemistry method. In future studies, BSA could be replaced by targeted proteins appropriate to the application area. This method could create new biomaterials, the surfaces of which could be tailored according to the desires and requirements of their use