Hydroxyapatite Coatings by Pulsed Laser Deposition

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Hydroxyapatite Coatings by Pulsed Laser Deposition
A pathway for improving the performance of
orthopedic and dental implants

• Andreece Richardson
• Department of Physics
• University of Alabama at Birmingham

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Orthopedic and Dental Implants

• Typically made of Titanium Alloys
• ? Good corrosion and fatigue life
• ? Acceptable biocompatibility
• Deposition of a coating of a material known as
  Hydroxyapatite on titanium implants
• ? Improves bioactivity
• ? Improves biocompatibility
• Hydroxyapatite is an important component of
  human bone!

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What type of material is Hydroxyapatite?

• Ceramic material
• Main mineral constituent of bone and teeth
• Bone and teeth
• 50 wt. mineral
• (mainly Hydroxyapatite)
• 50 wt. organic molecules water
• (collagen, mucopolysaccharides) and water

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A great way of depositing Hydroxyapatite
Pulsed Laser Deposition
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Pulsed Laser Deposition is a Great Technique

• Versatile technique for preparing a wide range of
  thin films and multi-layer structures
• Can work under controlled gas ambient
• Allows deposition of different coatings by
  changing the parameters of deposition
• Gives researchers the opportunity to discover
  novel coatings with long-term stability

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Pulsed Laser Deposition
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Mixed Argon and Water Pathway
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Deposition Experiments
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X-Ray Diffraction Results

• Besides Hydroxyapatite
• (Ca5(PO4)3(OH))
• There are other
• Calcium Phosphate Ceramics
• - Tricalcium phosphate
• (Ca3(PO4)2)
• - Tetracalcium phosphate
• (Ca4P2O9)
• - Amorphous hydroxyapatite

5 500 mTorr Water at 50 C Substrate 600C
4 300 mTorr Water at RT Substrate 500C
3 300 mTorr Water at RT Substrate 550C
2 300 mTorr Water at RT Substrate 600C
1 200 mTorr Water at RT Substrate 600C
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Conclusion

• We have found good conditions for depositing
  Hydroxyapatite by Pulsed Laser Deposition

500 mTorr Ar/Water Water at 50 C Substrate
600C
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Acknowledgments

• Thanks to Two Outstanding Mentors
• Hyunbin Kim and Dr. Renato Camata!