Enhancement of the Mechanical Properties and Biological Performance of Hydroxyapatite Coating by Selenium and Fluorine Ion Codoping

Abstract

Ion doping is a feasible method to improve the mechanical and biological properties of hydroxyapatite (HA) as an implant coating material. F and Se codoped HA (SeF-HA) powder is synthesized with the method of chemical codeposition and directly used for coating preparation via suspension plasma spray technology. Various characterizations indicate that F and Se ions have been codoped into the HA structure by substituting OH⁻ and PO₄³⁻ groups, respectively. The SeF-HA coatings exhibit excellent adhesion strength with the substrate, fully meeting the ISO requirement of 15 MPa. The dissolution behavior is investigated by immersing the coatings in simulated body fluid for different durations. The results show that the dissolution rate of the SeF-HA coatings is lower than that of the single Se-doped HA coating, suggesting an improvement in the stability of the SeF-HA coating. The in vitro studies show that the SeF-HA coating can promote the osteogenic activity of osteoblasts and has an antiproliferative effect on osteosarcoma cells. Based on these results, it can be concluded that the combined effects of Se and F can make suspension plasma sprayed HA coating a potential coating material for dental implants or for bone tissue repair in osteosarcoma patients.