Effect of laser surface texturing on the corrosion behaviour and biocompatibility of zinc hydroxyapatite implant material

Abstract

The demand to optimize pure zinc with adjustable rates of corrosion and biocompatibility has recently increased, and metal matrix composites offer a promising solution. In this study, an optimized Zinc-Hydroxyapatite combination was prepared through a powder metallurgy process, and surface modifications were performed using Laser Surface Texturing. The feasibility of the composite in corrosive and cell culture environments was systematically evaluated through physical and mechanical tests, revealing properties matching those of bone tissue. Three different textures were tested, and textured samples showed better resistance to corrosion and higher cell viability than non-textured ones, with hexagonal texture being the most effective. Contact angle measurements were performed to analyse the sample's hydrophilic nature, which improved with the texturing process. These results suggest that texturing increased the surface area and surface wettability, leading to better biocompatibility results. This study highlights the potential of metal matrix composites for in-vivo conditions and calls for further investigation.