Bioactive Hydroxyapatite-Magnesium Phosphate Coatings Deposited by MAPLE for Preventing Infection and Promoting Orthopedic Implants Osteointegration.

In this study, we used the matrix-assisted pulsed laser evaporation (MAPLE) technique to obtain hydroxyapatite (Ca 10 (PO 4 ) 6 (OH) 2 ) and magnesium phosphate (Mg 3 (PO 4 ) 2 ) thin coatings containing bone morphogenetic protein (BMP4) for promoting implants osteointegration and further nebulized with the antibiotic ceftriaxone (CXF) to prevent peri-implant infections. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), infrared microscopy (IRM) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Furthermore, the antimicrobial properties were evaluated on Staphylococcus aureus biofilms and the cytocompatibility on the MC3T3-E1 cell line. The obtained results proved the potential of the obtained coatings for bone implant applications, providing a significant antimicrobial and antibiofilm effect, especially in the first 48 h, and cytocompatibility in relation to murine osteoblast cells.