A multifunctional strontium/silver-co-substituted hydroxyapatite derived from biogenic source as antibacterial biomaterial

Abstract

The bioactive properties of hydroxyapatite (HAp) facilitate bone regeneration, however, its physico-chemical and bioactive properties can be further enhanced by ionic substitutions within the crystalline lattice. In this work, substitution with Sr2+ and Ag+ ions was investigated for the improvement of osseointegration and antibacterial activity in potential treatment of traumatic bone injuries. A series of single substituted HAp with Sr2+ or Ag+ ions and Ag/Sr-co-substituted HAp with different degrees of substitution (0, 1, 2.5, and 5 mol%) were obtained by wet precipitation from cuttlefish bone. Rietveld refinement indicated successful Ca2+ substitution by increasing cell parameters due to the larger ionic radii of Sr2+ and Ag+ compared to Ca2+, which was confirmed by elemental mapping showing uniform distribution of substituent cations. Characterization of the zeta-potential of Ag/Sr-co-substituted HAp showed negatively charged populations, at potentials not lower than −15 mV. Increasing the degree of substitution resulted in decreasing zeta-potential. The higher absorption capacity of bovine serum albumin was determined on Ag/Sr-co-substituted HAp powders as compared to non-substituted HAp. All Ag-substituted HAps have shown an antibacterial activity towards Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and Gram-negative Escherichia coli, as determined by inhibition zone, viability analysis and scanning electron microscopy. In addition, non-cytotoxicity towards human cells was confirmed by in vitro tests with embryonic kidney 293 and mesenchymal stem cells.