A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Electrophoretic deposition of Si3N4 nanoparticles on anodized titanium surfaces for orthopedic applications: An investigation on the microstructure, biomedical, and antibacterial properties of the surface
Authors: Heydarian, Fatemeh; Mokhtari, Mohammad Amin; Bahrami, Abbas; Karampoor, Mohammad Reza
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Publication year: 2025
Journal: Ceramics International
Volume: 51
Issue: 28, pt. B
First page : 57420
Last page: 57437
ISSN: 0272-8842
eISSN: 1873-3956
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ceramint.2025.09.450
Publication's open availability at the time of reporting: No Open Access
Publication channel's open availability : Partially Open Access publication channel
Web address : https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ceramint.2025.09.450
In this research, Si3N4 nanoparticles were coated on an anodized Ti-6Al-4V surface using electrophoretic deposition, aiming for improved bioactivity, biocompatibility, and antibacterial properties for biomedical applications. TiO2 nanotubes were first formed on the Ti-6Al-4V substrate at various times of 1, 2, and 4 h under a constant voltage of 40 V. The optimized anodized surface, defined by corrosion, mechanical, and topographical evaluations, was electrophoretically coated with Si3N4 nanoparticles. The morphological and microstructural implications were investigated by field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Results demonstrated that the 4 h-anodized samples showed the highest roughness and the closest bone-like mechanical properties in terms of hardness and elastic modulus. Results also confirmed that surface functionalization with Si3N4 nanoparticles appears very promising in terms of biomedical properties. Si3N4 association with the anodized surfaces resulted in improved antibacterial activity and cell viability. Also, Si3N4–functionalized anodized surfaces showed promising bioactivity, confirmed by the formation of hydroxyapatite crystals, when samples were immersed in the stimulated body fluid (SBF) solution. Overall, the surface functionalization of anodized surfaces with Si3N4 nanoparticles appears to have promising positive implications for the biomedical properties of anodized surfaces, which are often supposed to be used in orthopedic applications.