Structural, physical and antibacterial properties of pristine and Ag ⁺ doped fluoroapatite nanomaterials

Calcium phosphate ceramics, owing to their resemblance to bone structure, are widely used for different biomedical applications. However, such a specific bone-structure pattern is making those materials susceptible to colonisation by pathogenic bacteria. This work presents results of the study on physical characterisation and microbiological assessment of biocide properties of modified man-made fluor- and hydroxyapatites. The structures and physical properties were characterised by a diffuse reflectance spectra, FTIR, Raman spectroscopy, TEM and Zeta-potential analyses. The bactericidal properties were assessed with Staphylococcus aureus , the main pathogenic species responsible for implant-associated infections. It was found that manufactured materials had structures typical for the biological (bone) apatites. Doping with silver has not changed their morphology. Results from the assays have confirmed that built-in silver substantially increased their biocidal properties, thus Ag-doped fluorapatite is a promising new resistant biomaterial with great bactericidal effect that potentially could be applied in tissue engineering, or dentistry.