Preparation, in vitro bioactivity and osteoblast cell response of Ca-Ta2O5 nanorods on tantalum

Abstract

The novel Ca-Ta2O5 nanorods films were successfully prepared by two step hydrothermal synthesis. XRD (X-ray diffraction), SEM (scanning electron microscope), TEM (transmission electron microscopy), XPS (X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy) and AFM (atomic force microscopy) were used to analyze the phase and surface microstructure. ICP (inductively coupled plasma emission spectroscopy) was used to detect the ion precipitation concentration of the samples in normal saline, and the apatite induction ability was tested by simulated body fluid immersion experiment. Finally, the biological activity of the calcium-doped nanorods film was tested by cell experiment. The results showed that the Ta2O5 and Ca-Ta2O5 nanorods films were formed on tantalum and exhibited a nanorod structure growing along the [001] direction. The roughness and morphology of the nanorods had not been significantly affected by the doping of calcium. The Ca-Ta2O5 nanorods had good in vitro structural stability. Compared to Ta2O5 nanorods, the apatite induction ability of Ca-Ta2O5 nanorods film was significantly enhanced. Under the dual action of the nanorods structure and the element of Ca, the in vitro cell-culture studies clearly demonstrate that the Ca-Ta2O5 nanorod film was more suitable for the attachment and proliferation of MC3T3-E1 cells than the Ta substrate and Ta2O5 nanorod films. The Ta substrate/Ca-Ta2O5 nanorods film is expected to be a promising biomaterial for orthopedic applications for its high biocompatibility and bioactivity.