Synthesis of titanium oxide nanotubes and their decoration by MnO nanoparticles for biomedical applications

Abstract

Abstract In this study, apatite formation ability on TiO2 nanotubes (TNTs) synthesized by anodizing process were compared with TNTs decorated by MnO nanoparticles. The MnO nanoparticles used for decoration process were fabricated via thermal decomposition method. At first, it was strived to find the optimal condition of anodizing process and the effect of applied voltages (15 V, 20 V, and 25 V) and process times (15 min, 20 min, and 25 min) on the diameter of the synthesized TNTs was investigated. Results of microscopic characterizations showed that the completely uniform structure of nanotubes with a diameter in the range of about 100–130 nm was achieved after 20 min of anodizing process at an applied voltage of 25 V. In the next step, MnO nanoparticles were synthesized by thermal decomposition method. The effect of heating rate of 2 °C/min and 20 °C/min on the size and morphology of nanoparticles was investigated. The results showed that higher heating rate of the synthesis process has led to a decrease in MnO particle size with a more uniform morphology. After that, the TNTs surfaces were decorated with MnO nanoparticles using solvothermal process and the effect of MnO concentration was investigated in the solvothermal process. The bioactivity results of the specimens in simulated body fluid (SBF) showed that the decorated TNTs with higher amounts of MnO nanoparticles exhibited the highest ability to form apatite compared to the decorated TNTs with lower amounts of MnO nanoparticles and un-decorated TNTs.