The Influence of Surface Treatment by Hydrogenation on the Biocompatibility of Different Hydroxyapatite Materials

The influence of hydrogenation on the biocompatibility of different hydroxyapatite (HAP) materials was tested. Materials consisted of pure HAP, HAP substituted with manganese (Mn+2) and with magnesium (Mg+2) - all axially pressed and conventionally sintered for 2 h at 1200 degrees C; pure HAP isostatic pressed and sintered by a microwave technique for 15 min at temperature of 1200 degrees C. Biocompatibility was compared by enumeration of the number of osteoblast-like cells to the materials before and after hydrogenation. Obtained results show that the osteoblastic cells demonstrated a higher ability to attach to HAP if its surface was negatively charged. Hydrogenation altered the surface potential; HAP substituted with manganese - HAP(Mn) and with magnesium - HAP(Mg) demonstrated the highest ability to engineer the charge.