In Vitro Apatite Formation on Polymer Substrates Irradiated by the Simultaneous Use of Oxygen Cluster and Monomer Ion Beams

Abstract

AbstractPolyethylene (PE) and silicone rubber substrates were irradiated at an acceleration voltage of 7kV and a dose of 1×1015 ions/cm2 by the simultaneous use of oxygen cluster and monomer ion beams, and then soaked in CaCl2 solution. Apatite-forming ability of the substrates was examined using a metastable calcium phosphate solution that had 1.5 times the ion concentrations of a normal simulated body fluid (1.5SBF). After the irradiation, the hydrophilic functional groups such as COOH and silicon oxide cluster (SiOx) were formed at the PE and silicone rubber surfaces, respectively. The hydrophilicity of the substrates was remarkably improved by the irradiation. The irradiated PE and silicone rubber substrates formed apatite in 1.5SBF, whereas unirradiated ones did not form it. These results suggest that the functional groups such as COOH groups and Si-OH groups induced apatite nucleation in 1.5SBF.