Abstract
The introduction of nanoparticles (NPs) into the breath-figure-templated self-assembly (BFTSA) process is an increasingly common method to selectively decorate a surface porous structure. In the field of prosthetic devices, besides controlling the morphology and roughness of the structure, NPs can enhance the osteointegration mechanism because of their specific ion release. Among the most widely used NPs, there are silica and hydroxyapatite (HAp). In this work, we propose a novel one-stage method to fabricate NP-decorated surface porous structures that are suitable for prosthetic coating applications. This technique combines the classical direct BFTSA process with the cavitation effect induced by an ultrasonic atomizer that generates a mist of water droplets with embedded NPs. Coatings were successfully obtained by combining a UV cross-linkable polymer precursor, alkoxy silicone, with synthesized HAp NPs, on Ti6Al4V alloy discs. The cross-linked polymeric surface porous structures at selected concentrations were then pyrolyzed in an ammonia atmosphere to obtain a silicon oxynitride (SiON) ceramic coating. Herein, we report the chemical and morphological analyses of both the polymeric and ceramic coatings as well as the effect of NPs at the interface.
Highlights
Self-assembly techniques can be defined as bottom-up strategies to produce patterned porous structures, suitable for applications at the nanoscale and microscale.[1]
The breath-figure (BF) process has come to the attention of the scientific community only over the past 2 decades,[2] even though the mechanism had already been studied and theorized by Lord Rayleigh in 1911.3 The breathfigure-templated self-assembly (BFTSA) process is a low-cost, one-stage technique to achieve regular porous patterned structures.[1,2]
The main difference between the two adopted BFTSA methods lies in the central areas of the specimens where the mist flow generated by the ultrasonic atomizer directly impacts the casted Loctite 5248−ethyl acetate solution
Summary
Self-assembly techniques can be defined as bottom-up strategies to produce patterned porous structures, suitable for applications at the nanoscale and microscale.[1]. It is worth mentioning that surface coatings can be formed via vapor-phase processes such as plasma spraying, hot isostatic pressing, and thermal spraying[26,27] or via imbibition-based processes such as dip coating[28] and Langmuir−Blodgett deposition.[29] In comparison, the BFTSA process offers additional benefits such as selectively decorating the pore structures by inorganic nanoparticles (NPs).[24,25] In recent years, this procedure has gained more interest because of either the benefits of forming hybrid polymeric−inorganic patterned films[25] or the Pickering emulsion phenomenon Pickering emulsion is another self-assembly phenomenon that takes place at the liquid−liquid interface of a water/oil or oil/water emulsion.[30] The combination of the Pickering emulsion effect with the BFTSA technique leads to an NP adsorption at the air−water−polymer three-phase contact that mechanically hinders the droplet coalescence. Both the NPdecorated polymer structures and the final ceramic structures were physically and chemically characterized
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