Abstract:
This Ph.D. research work was designed to optimize the synthesis parameters using different reaction methods for bone whitlockite (WH) in bulk. Moreover, to confirm the use of WH as a scaffold, titanium plates were coated with gelatin (Gel), WH, and chitosan (CS) composite using the electrophoretic deposition method (EPD). A design of experiments (DoE) approach using the Taguchi model was implemented to optimize the coating parameters for maximum deposition yield and highest signal-to-noise ratio. The synthesized materials were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, Fourier infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetry (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). XRD, FTIR, and Raman spectroscopy analyses were done to confirm the synthesis of a single phase. TGA was done to evaluate the thermal stability of WH. SEM and TEM analysis gave a deep insight into the chemical composition and morphology of prepared material. The obtained results confirmed that the prepared material is single-phase WH with a nanometer size range. To confirm the bone tissue regeneration potential of WH in-vitro bioactivity, cell viability, and cell proliferation tests were done. The obtained results confirmed that WH prepared by wet and solid-state methods is highly bioactive, biocompatible, and promotes osseointegration. Chemical characterization of coatings was done using XRD, FTIR, contact angle goniometer, and SEM techniques. To evaluate the strength and in-vitro stability of WHbased coatings adhesion testing and in-vitro degradation tests were done. To further confirm the bone tissue regeneration, in-vitro bioactivity, cell viability, and cell proliferation analysis of coatings were done. The obtained results confirmed that CS/Gel/WH coating is bioactive, biocompatible, stable under physiological environment with a slow degradation rate, and promotes osseointegration. The results presented in this dissertation will have a direct impact on WH research, its commercial production, and the fabrication of WH-based scaffolds for clinical applications.
