In vitro antibacterial and osteogenic properties of plasma sprayed silver-containing hydroxyapatite coating

The objective of the present investigation was to characterize the antibacterial and osteogenic properties of plasma sprayed silver-containing hydroxyapatite (HA/Ag) coating in vitro. HA/Ag coating was deposited via vacuum plasma spraying. The concentration of silver ions released from HA/Ag coating, the efficacy of the HA/Ag coating against bacterial biofilm development, the effect of the HA/Ag coating on early adhesion and ossification of osteoblast cells in vitro was measured. The silver ion concentration released from the HA/Ag coating was between the minimum inhibitory concentration to bacteria and the cytotoxic concentration. Bacterial biofilm inhibition studies indicated an antibacterial activity on the HA/Ag coating surface when compared with hydroxyapatite (HA) coating alone. Moreover, it was demonstrated that osteoblast cell adhesion and mineralization occurred on the HA/Ag coating surface during the testing period. We conclude that the vacuum plasma sprayed HA/Ag coating possesses good antibacterial capability and osteogenic properties in vitro and represents a promising candidate for coating orthopedic implants.