Biomimetic deposition of apatite on electrochemically oxidized titanium substrates

Apatite formation on artificial materials in a body environment is prerequisite for bioactivity or tissue-material bonding. A specific hydrated silica or titania gel has the ability of apatite deposition in body environment. Electrochemical preparation of such a bioactive titanium oxide layer on titanium (Ti) is reported. Ti was kept at 9.5 V for 1 hour for oxidation and subsequently kept at -2.0 V for 10 min for adsorbing calcium hydroxide on the surface. The specimens subject to the electrochemical treatments were found so bioactive as to deposit apatite within 12 hours in a simulated body fluid. Calcium hydroxide precipitated on the bioactive surface favored spontaneous deposition of apatite in the fluid. We examined the effect of autoclave sterilization considered in vivo experiment. It slightly reduced the ability of apatite deposition.