Influence of Terbium Ions and Their Concentration on the Photoluminescence Properties of Hydroxyapatite for Biomedical Applications

Andrei Viorel Paduraru,Ovidiu Oprea,Florin Iordache,Ecaterina Andronescu,Adina Magdalena Musuc,Bogdan Stefan Vasile

doi:10.3390/nano11092442

Abstract

A new generation of biomaterials with terbium-doped hydroxyapatite was obtained using a coprecipitation method. The synthesis of new materials with luminescent properties represents a challenging but important contribution due to their potential applications in biomedical science. The main objective of this study was to revel the influence of terbium ions on the design and structure of hydroxyapatite. Different concentrations of terbium, described by the chemical formula Ca10−xTbx(PO4)6(OH)2, where x is in the range of 0 to 1, were considered. The consequence of ion concentration on hydroxyapatite morphology was also investigated. The morphology and structure, as well as the optical properties, of the obtained nanomaterials were characterized using X-ray powder diffraction analysis (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared spectrometry (FTIR), SEM and TEM microscopy, UV-Vis and photoluminescence spectroscopies. The measurements revealed that terbium ions were integrated into the structure of hydroxyapatite within certain compositional limits. The biocompatibility and cytotoxicity of the obtained powders evaluated using MTT assay, oxidative stress assessment and fluorescent microscopy revealed the ability of the synthesized nanomaterials to be used for biological system imaging.

Highlights

Photoluminescence is a significant and valuable instrument for the in situ study of tissue engineering and restoration, with fluorescent molecules having been used in clinical trials for a long time
The concentration of terbium ions from doped HAp was analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) technique
The influence of terbium ions on the formation and structure of hydroxyapatite biomaterials synthesized by the coprecipitation method, was investigated

Summary

Introduction

Photoluminescence is a significant and valuable instrument for the in situ study of tissue engineering and restoration, with fluorescent molecules having been used in clinical trials for a long time. Many researchers have been focused on developing new biological luminescent compounds with special properties, e.g., high quantum yield and long fluorescence lifetime, for use in the medical field [1,2]. In this context, many bioceramics have been selected and used for reconstruction and/or to repair different types of tissue, applied as a coating, as cement, or as nanoparticles [3].

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