Impact of sintering temperature on the phase composition and antibacterial properties of silver-doped hydroxyapatite

Dubnika, Arita; Loca, Dagnija; Reinis, Aigars; Kodols, Maris; Berzina-Cimdina, Liga

doi:10.1351/PAC-CON-12-08-12

Pure Appl. Chem., 2013, Vol. 85, No. 2, pp. 453-462

http://dx.doi.org/10.1351/PAC-CON-12-08-12

Published online 2013-01-12

Impact of sintering temperature on the phase composition and antibacterial properties of silver-doped hydroxyapatite

Arita Dubnika¹*, Dagnija Loca¹, Aigars Reinis², Maris Kodols³ and Liga Berzina-Cimdina¹

¹ Rudolfs Cimdins Riga Biomaterials Innovation and Development Centre, Riga Technical University, Pulka 3/3, LV-1007, Riga, Latvia
² Department of Biology and Microbiology, Riga Stradins University, Dzirciema 6, LV-1007, Riga, Latvia
³ Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, Riga Technical University, Miera Str. 34, Salaspils, LV-2169, Latvia

Abstract: In the present study, the impact of sintering temperature on the phase composition and antibacterial properties of silver-doped hydroxyapatite (HAp/Ag) samples was investigated. HAp/Ag containing 0.2 and 1.2 % silver was prepared using a modified wet chemical precipitation method. The surface morphology and inner structure of the sintered samples were discussed. X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) studies showed that, after the sintering process, HAp/Ag contained a silver oxide phase, which was not observed in raw materials. Phase composition changes at different sintering temperatures were studied, and it was found that silver oxide undergoes phase changes during the sintering process. In vitro antibacterial properties approved the excellent antimicrobial activity of HAp/Ag against the bacterial strains Staphylococcus epidermidis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The HAp/Ag sample with 1.2 % silver content, sintered at 1150 °C, showed the highest antibacterial activity.